John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he will take to bring alternative employment to Waterford where 200 jobs are to be lost at a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37938/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In September, 2006, the company in question announced a reduction in its employment with the removal of 200 temporary positions from its Waterford plant. The full services of the Industrial Training agency FÁS are available to these employees. The jobs in question are not permanent positions and the company continues to employ over 1,500 permanent people.

On 27 October, 2006, I announced that a French company would be investing €115 million in establishing a pharmaceuticals ingredients facility at Belview which is located on the border of Waterford and Kilkenny. A total of 155 new jobs will be created in this facility. The real significance of this project is that the French company is the first company to locate in the Belview site. Belview is a key strategic site developed by IDA Ireland to attract a cluster of cutting-edge multinational pharmaceutical companies to the South East. This is a very promising beginning.

On 12 October, 2006, Waterford County Council organised a Conference entitled "Invest in Waterford" which was held in Dungarvan. On that occasion, the Secretary General of my Department launched a new website to promote County Waterford as a prime business location for a range of sectors including retail, healthcare, bio-pharma and pharmaceuticals, shared services and tourism. The website also seeks to attract people to return to the county to work.

Earlier this year, I announced the extension of the Enterprise Ireland Community Enterprise Centre Scheme. Under this Scheme, Dungarvan Enterprise Development was approved for €300,000 towards the construction of a new Centre. Enterprise Ireland is also involved in the Interagency Forum which was established by the Waterford County Manager last year following job losses at the Dungarvan Crystal Plant. In this regard, support has been provided for an Economic Development Executive and this position was filled at the end of last year.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued will continue to bring about investment and jobs for the people of Waterford.