Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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6. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his Department's response to the loss of jobs in a company (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if he has established the proposed task force to deal with this matter; and if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23807/14]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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A task force was set up to address the jobs losses in Dawn Meats in Fethard, County Tipperary. The factory had been operating for almost 40 years, with some employees having worked there for the entire time. They were a wonderful staff and it was a huge blow to the eastern part of south Tipperary, where there is no industry whatsoever. How is the task force progressing? Has it met other agencies and interested parties?

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I understand from EI that it has been actively promoting the site concerned to a number of interested parties. I am not in a position to disclose the details of those interactions for commercially sensitive reasons.

However, task forces have been used in the past as part of a response to a sudden loss of a large number of industrial jobs. More recently, other initiatives are increasingly used as an alternative to task forces. In this regard, the establishment of LEOs, recently announced by Government, means that all categories of business, including sole traders, micro businesses and SMEs have access to Government supports and advice. The LEO is the first-stop shop for anyone seeking information and support on starting or enhancing a business.

The active promotion of the site is taking place. EI is actively engaged in seeking to ensure the jobs that were lost are replaced.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I acknowledge the sensitivities of negotiations and so on. However, I am seeking clarity about the make-up of the task force. The Minister of State mentioned EI. What other agencies are represented on it? It is almost a year since the factory closed. The Queally family gave wonderful service and they did their best but the factory was not viable, which is sad. I asked Coolmore representatives at the time if they would be interested because they are the only employer in the area of note. I take on board what the Minister of State said about the county enterprise boards and LEOs but I do not know whether the LEO in Tipperary is properly constituted yet. Will they be similar to Leader companies, which we are debating on Private Members' business?

There is a lot of foot dragging and a failure to put measures in place. This plant is of enormous importance to the eastern part of south Tipperary where there are no other employers of that magnitude. I respect there are small and local employers and sole traders, but the town of Fethard has been hammered with the recession. I want to know the make-up of the task force, how many times it has met and whether there is a timeline for the production of a report.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I acknowledge the points made by the Deputy in regard to the effect of the loss of a company like this to a town like Fethard. In south Tipperary, where Enterprise Ireland is the lead agency in efforts to ensure we replace and create jobs, there are 76 client companies employing more than 2,000 people in full-time jobs. These are the figures for 2013. In excess of €9 million worth of grants has been paid to client companies since 2011. I assure the Deputy that Enterprise Ireland is working actively as the representative State agency in seeking to ensure we can replace the jobs that have been lost. It is actively promoting the site to a number of interested parties as we speak.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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The Minister of State has still not provided clarity on the task force. Much was made of the task force by a local Minister of State at the time, Deputy Tom Hayes, and we all welcomed it. I want to know if there is meat on the bones of this. Is there a task force or is there not? Will the task force meet the newly elected councillors for the area, including Councillor Kieran Bourke, who was mayor at the time and worked hard on this issue? Will some Members of the Oireachtas and local representatives from the area meet interested people from the town of Fethard and the factory?

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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As far as I am aware, there is no formal task force working on this, such as the task force for the south east where all the agencies are working together. I assure the Deputy, however, that the local agencies are working together. Enterprise Ireland is the pre-eminent State agency and it is working proactively on this. It is promoting the site to a number of interested parties. I ask the Deputy to allow that process to take shape. I am sure he will acknowledge that Enterprise Ireland is working with interested parties to seek to replace the jobs that have been lost.