Written answers

Thursday, 23 March 2006

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Job Creation

5:00 pm

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the discussions or contacts he has had with the job creation agencies with a view to seeking new industries for Mallow, County Cork, in view of the implications for Mallow and the surrounding areas of the announcement by the Irish Sugar Company that it is to close its plant with the loss of 320 full-time and part-time jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11339/06]

Photo of Gerard MurphyGerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he intends to take to provide alternative employment for persons working in the Greencore plant in Mallow, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11358/06]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 67 together.

I was very concerned to hear the announcement of the closure of the plant in question at Mallow, County Cork. I am fully aware of the impact the job losses will have on the employees concerned and the local communities in both Mallow and the surrounding area. I understand that the company had hoped to undertake one more sugar campaign but it then decided that it was not feasible to do so.

Finding alternative employment for those affected will be a priority for the State's development agencies. The services of FÁS are being made available to the workers who are to lose their jobs. On 21 March 2006, representatives of FÁS met with company management and provided a full briefing on the range of FÁS services available. I understand that FÁS representatives are meeting with the staff today. The registration process will begin next week so that progress will be made before the employees are let go.

In addition to FÁS, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland will play an important part in developing a way forward for the employees involved. At present, IDA Ireland is promoting north Cork to potential investors from across the full range of its targeted sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, information and communications technologies and internationally traded services. Every effort will be made to secure new advanced, knowledge-based industry for the area. Several significant inward investment projects have been secured for the county in recent years.

Enterprise Ireland is working with just over 700 client companies in County Cork, which employ over 22,000 people. This reflects an increase of over 3,000 jobs in the agency's client companies in the area over the past five years.

Finally, on 21 March 2006, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Agriculture and Food and I, together with the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, met a delegation of various interested and concerned parties. In the course of our discussions, I assured the delegation of the full commitment of the State development agencies to addressing the difficulties facing the workers, their families and the local community. It is also my intention to ensure that possible alternative uses of the company's facility are explored.

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