Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the correspondence she has had with the task force established in the aftermath of the announcement of job losses at a plant (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13397/09]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the contacts she has had with the industrial development agencies with a view to securing alternative employment for the 1,800 workers who, it was announced in January 2009, are to lose their jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13343/09]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the findings of the Forfás report on the number of job losses arising from the closure of a plant (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13396/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 60 and 79 together.

The Forfás report referred to was prepared for my Department in advance of the decision and announcement by Dell in January to reduce its Limerick workforce by 1,900. The report was prepared on a basis of a "what if/worst case" scenario with all jobs being lost at Dell in Limerick which of course is not what subsequently transpired. Following the January announcement by Dell, I established the Mid West Task Force, Chaired by Mr Denis Brosnan. The role of the Task Force, amongst others, is to assess the particular impact on the wider regional economy of the decision to close certain parts of the Dell plant in Limerick and associated job losses in other companies and also to carry out an analysis of the potential impact of the current economic downturn on the Mid-West Region. I have arranged for Forfas to update its earlier report and input to the work of the Task Force.

I have asked the Task Force to provide me with an interim report on their findings and this is likely to be completed in May.

It is also important to point out that IDA has been working diligently to secure new investments for the Region and over the last year companies like Vistakon, Zimmer, Cook, DTS and Microsemi have had announcements in the Region. The Agency currently has a pipeline of projects under consideration. These potential investments are being pursued and IDA Ireland will do everything possible to speed up the investment decisions in Limerick's favour.

The investment projects which IDA is seeking to attract to Limerick today are much different to those of the past, relying principally on the skills of its people and on a strong business and educational infrastructure to pull investment to the county. IDA's strategy is to re-position the region as a hotspot for knowledge based industry, while focusing on marketing Limerick as a key location for investment by building on the strengths already evident in the county. IDA is also working closely with the existing base of employers to encourage additional investment, particularly in activities such as R&D, customer support and back office functions.

Enterprise Ireland is specifically targeting potential business start-ups through the following supports & programmes:

Dedicated Opportunities Fair held in March in Limerick to encompass all Enterprise, Employment and Education institutions together with private & voluntary sector organisations including financial Institutions, Mabs, Citizens Information and recruitment agencies.

New collaborative Information brochure detailing contacts, business Start-Up supports & financial assistance available via EI and the CEB's.

New series of one & two night seminars & workshops throughout the Mid-West commenced in March to provide individuals with information on enterprise start & identification of new business opportunities.

A new EI led 6 week part-time Enterprise Start Programme commenced at the EI funded Enterprise Acceleration Centre at LIT in February to facilitate individuals to explore Business Start-Up as a new career option.

A new 12 month Enterprise Platform Programme to commence at LIT in April for individuals to assist individuals to commercialise existing business ideas.

One-to-one meeting facility for individuals interested in business start-up from locally based EI regional development executives.

In addition Enterprise Ireland is addressing the challenges facing the sub-supply base in the Mid-west with a dedicated sub-supplier event in April to facilitate supply companies to explore new opportunities, new business leads & new markets with assistance from EI's overseas market network. FÁS are working in conjunction with the County Enterprise Boards and other agencies to take the appropriate actions to support workers being made redundant, including assistance to re-skill and re-train to enhance their future employment potential.