Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures being taken by his Department and its agencies, in particular the Industrial Development Authority and Enterprise Ireland, to set up a specific task force for employment and re-employment of redundant workers (details supplied); and the approximate date for this task force to be operational. [13444/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I was very disappointed at the announcement by Allergan to close its Arklow operations. On 19th March I visited Arklow and met with Allergan worker representatives, Arklow Town Council and Arklow Chamber of Commerce. The State development agencies under the auspices of my Department, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland (EI), the Wicklow County Enterprise Board (CEB) and Fás also attended these meetings. At the meeting with workers, Fás, EI and the CEB outlined the range of supports and services that would be put in place and available during the coming months to the workers being made redundant.

As regards a specific task force suggested by the Deputy, I would point out that the State development agencies have adopted a coordinated approach in response to job losses in recent times. This approach is directed at assisting any relevant employees affected and has two objectives:

To enhance and facilitate the future employment prospects of the workforce

To identify and support any individual who wishes to start their own business.

With regard to Arklow and County Wicklow in general, IDA continues to promote the area for new business and is currently in negotiation with investors seeking to relocate and expand at the IDA business park in Arklow. In addition, Servier has expanded from 100 jobs to over 300 in the past few years. Other companies in or adjacent to County Wicklow have expanded rapidly with IDA assistance, including Takeda in Bray, now employing 400 plus and Dell employing over 1,500 in Cherrywood. I would also point out that IDA Ireland promotes Wicklow as an integral part of the East Region, the largest region in the country, home to one third of the nation's population with 1.5 million people, and with half the FDI employment at 65,000 jobs, an increase of 15,000 in 10 years.

Enterprise Ireland has supported indigenous industry in Arklow and has given substantial financial support ( €782,000) to the Arklow Enterprise Centre. The centre boasts 23,000sq ft of industrial space and provides reasonably-priced workspace to small and expanding businesses. Particular emphasis has been placed on creating and developing employment and enterprise space for the unemployed. The centre is currently at 95% capacity, a not inconsiderable achievement for this facility and an expansion to the original centre was recently approved under the Community Enterprise Centre Programme 2007-2009. When completed, the centre will be capable of accommodating over 175 people. Similarly, Enterprise Ireland has supported the Wicklow Community Enterprise Centre currently accommodating over 60 companies who employ almost 400 people, and is at full capacity.

A significant number of Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Co. Wicklow are actively growing their businesses. In 2006 and 2007 EI approved financial funding of € 4.8m and €3.9m respectively to Wicklow-based firms that are committed to increasing their sales exports and employment. This investment involved support in areas such as R&D, Capability Building and Process Development.

I can assure the Deputy that Government and the State development agencies, under the auspices of my Department, are fully committed to assisting the workers being made redundant to find alternative employment, as well as continuing to attract industry to Arklow and County Wicklow.