Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits by industrialists to south Tipperary in 2012, facilitated by his Department and the various job development agencies; the number of visits specifically targeted at vacant advance factories and vacant private facilities in 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9406/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by IDA Ireland that during 2012, there were five site visits by potential investors from overseas to south Tipperary. Also during 2012, Enterprise Ireland, whose focus is on assisting indigenous companies, dealt with 77 client companies in south Tipperary which employ 2,151 people.

South Tipperary forms part of IDA Ireland’s south-east region along with counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford. In south Tipperary there are eight IDA Ireland supported companies employing 3,400 people. The key industry sector for south Tipperary is life sciences, which accounts for almost 90% of employment. The largest employers are Abbott and Boston Scientific, followed by MSD, Pinewood Laboratories and Suir Pharma.

As part of its offering to potential clients, the IDA has invested in the provision of an extensive portfolio of property solutions countrywide. In Tipperary, the availability of the former J&J Cordis facility is an important offering which the IDA is actively promoting. In addition, the ongoing development of the 300 acre park at Ballingarrane in Clonmel is an important asset.

As the Deputy is aware, I established a South East Forum, following the publication of the South East Action Plan in December 2011. That action plan was initiated following the TalkTalk job losses in Waterford and in recognition of the serious unemployment situation in the south-east region generally. Part of the remit of the forum, comprising representatives of relevant agencies and stakeholders, was to examine ways of ensuring better synchronisation of effort in order to avoid duplication and produce synergies that would lead to job creation. The action plan has a number of recommendations which the agencies and stakeholders are charged with implementing. I am satisfied that all these key players in the region have been working together, from within existing budgets, to pursue the plan’s recommendations.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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Our first thoughts this evening are with the 245 staff in Abbott in Clonmel who have just heard the devastating news of job losses this afternoon. I ask the Minister to intervene personally to ensure the staff affected get a good financial package, the required training and upskilling to enable them to take up future employment, to intervene with the company - which is a large one that has a large number of workers remaining on the site - to ensure its continued commitment to the site and to replace the jobs that are being lost with new initiatives and developments at the site. As the Minister will know, Abbott is a significant employer and flagship industry for the country and beyond it.

In view of the closure of Kickham Barracks, St. Michael's psychiatric unit, other closures in the area and these job losses announced this afternoon, I ask the Minister to establish a task force to prioritise employment for the south Tipperary area. As the Minister will be aware, the area has been hit by significant levels of unemployment during the years, with the number unemployed rising from 3,524 in 2008 to 9,173 today, almost a trebling of the figures. I hope the Minister will intervene in respect of the job losses at Abbott, as I have requested, and establish a task force to prioritise employment for the county as a result of this news this afternoon.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I absolutely agree that our first thoughts must be with the workers. This is a really tough day for them. I have spoken to the company and I am reassured that it will give full support both in terms of the package of support and assistance in terms of retaining. I am also heartened that the company is absolutely committed to this site. As the Deputy will know, it is also making significant investments in the site to develop it further and it has been an award winning site both within the company and externally. The company is absolutely fully committed to it. It is making investments that will see the quality of production in this site improve and grow more competitive for the long-term future.

As the Deputy said, the company is very committed not only to Clonmel but nationally. It employs 3,200 nationally across 11 sites. Although it is a sad day for the 200 affected, I am reassured of the company's full commitment.

In terms of the south east, I have established a South East Action Plan, I have all the agencies working together to promote the south east, which includes south Tipperary, and I am heartened by the progress that is being made. I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to have a focus both on south Tipperary and the wider south-east region because, as the Deputy said, it is one that has been particularly badly affected in recent years and needs the spotlight upon it, as we have given it in the South East Action Plan.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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I reiterate the need for a task force for south Tipperary. Unemployment figures for the county are significant and have almost trebled in recent years. The number unemployed in Clonmel has increased from 1,068 to 2,907. In Carrick-on-Suir, which has a population of approximately 6,000, there are 2,007 unemployed. The number unemployed in Tipperary Town, which is a similar size, has increased to 1,732, the number unemployed in Cahir is 1,331-----

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I must ask the Deputy to leave it as that as the time allocated for this question has expired.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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-----and the number unemployed in Cashel is 1,196. In view of those figures, today's job losses in Abbott, the closure of Kickham Barracks and other closures, I ask the Minister to consider establishing a task force for the area.