Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Carrick-on-Suir will be prioritised for job creation and investment and to establish a jobs task force for the town in view of the persistent high levels of unemployment, in excess of 20%, in the town and in view of the closure announcement of a company (details supplied) with the loss of 53 jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4280/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The company concerned announced to its staff on 31 January last that it would cease operations in Carrick-on-Suir with the loss of 53 jobs. Some 11 permanent staff will be transferred to new offices in Waterford city and will be retained in distribution support activities and finance.

The IDA strategy for South Tipperary is to concentrate future economic development in Clonmel by developing the town as a first-class location for overseas investment. That strategy has been agreed with the south Tipperary county development board, and the agency's plans were outlined to Carrick-on-Suir Town Council last year. Carrick-on-Suir needs to link into the economic growth centres of Clonmel and Waterford, as there will be knock-on benefits in sectors such as distribution and transport, thus creating further investment and employment opportunities for people in surrounding areas, including Carrick-on-Suir.

Enterprise Ireland provided support in 1998 for the setting up of an enterprise centre in Carrick-on-Suir. That centre has been sold to a private developer, and the proceeds of that sale have been invested in a new community resource centre for the town. The community enterprise centre is now incorporated into a state-of-the-art resource centre.

The unemployment rate for the south east, according to the latest quarterly national household survey, is 6.7%. The latest CSO live register analysis shows that the number of those claiming unemployment benefit in Carrick-on-Suir was fairly static — 890 people in December 2005, as against 893 in December 2004. I met a delegation from Carrick-on-Suir Town Council last year and, following a meeting with FÁS, the agency agreed to increase its level of engagement with the long-term unemployed in the town.

I can assure you that the State development agencies, under the auspices of my Department, will continue to work closely together with the county development board, as well as participating in the special working groups set up in October 2004 by the county manager of south Tipperary to deal with job creation issues in the area, including Carrick-on-Suir. Should any further co-ordination be required, I consider that the county development board and the special working groups on which the State agencies are represented would be the appropriate fora to fulfil this function.