Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the announcement made by the company in question to close its call centre in Castlebar. The parent company has decided to consolidate its business into one Irish location. It is no longer practical for the company to operate out of two centres in Ireland. All business will be consolidated into the company's operation in Shannon and staff are being offered the option, including a relocation package, of employment in Shannon.

The industrial development agencies are committed to the development of County Mayo. IDA Ireland client companies have made seven site visits to the county since January 2004. Last year, four IDA Ireland supported companies also committed to research and development projects in the county, with a potential spend of approximately €5.5 million. In Castlebar, a new 16-acre modern business and technology park has been fully developed and is being actively promoted by IDA Ireland for new projects. Enterprise Ireland has approved funding support of over €5.8 million and paid over €4.8 million to companies in Mayo in recent years. A further €563,000 has been approved in support for the indigenous sector this year.

The State agencies, including the local county enterprise board, will continue to make every effort to secure alternative employment for the staff affected by the job losses at the particular company. In this regard, I am encouraged by the most recent live register analysis figures released by the Central Statistics Office. The year on year figures for March 2005, as against March 2004, for Castlebar show a decrease of 99 people, down from 964 to 865. For the county as a whole, the figure was 5,297 in March of this year, down from 5,863 in March 2004, a decrease of almost 10%.