John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the plans in place to attract new industries to Belmullet, County Mayo following the announcement of the closure of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27754/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, statutory responsibility for the development of the economy of the Gaeltacht by promoting productive schemes of employment rests with Údarás na Gaeltachta.

My Department is in regular contact with an tÚdarás in a policy context and the job losses in the company to which the Deputy refers are a shared concern. As the Deputy will be aware, competitiveness in national and international markets has intensified in recent times. Unsettled financial markets have created difficulties for a number of companies throughout the Gaeltacht, including in Béal an Mhuirthead, while others have been placed under pressure due to the euro/dollar exchange rate.

I have been assured by an tÚdarás that efforts are ongoing towards identifying new business opportunities for the facility occupied by the company referred to by the Deputy with a view to maintaining employment in the area.

On a broader front, I might add for the information of the Deputy that I and my officials met with senior executives of an tÚdarás twice in the last week in relation to the management of the funding that is currently available to the organisation, particularly in the context of the need to operate within the guidelines set down for public bodies, both in terms of dealing with existing commitments and approving new projects. I am conscious of the need to support job maintenance and job creation in the Gaeltacht, especially in the current economic climate, and my Department will continue to work closely with an tÚdarás in this regard.