Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress to date in securing a replacement industry in view of the closure of Bose Limited in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, and the consequential serious loss of employment; if he is aware of the need to have new job opportunities provided for the Carrickmacross and south Monaghan areas at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32571/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will possibly be aware that following the announcement of the closure of the BOSE factory, I established an inter-agency group under the chairmanship of Enterprise Ireland, also including IDA Ireland, the Director of Monaghan County Council, the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), the Cavan / Monaghan and Louth / Meath Educational Training Boards (ETB), and Department of Social Protection.

The initial action of the group was to co-ordinate the response from the State in terms of awareness of entitlements and opportunities for the affected staff. This was handled in the main by Department of Social Protection in terms of benefits and the Educational Training Boards/ Local Enterprise Offices in terms of courses and support for start-up businesses. IDA Ireland, in conjunction with BOSE HR, developed a demographic and skills profile of the current staff at the BOSE facility. This profile will be central to IDA Ireland’s marketing of the location.

My focus, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, has been on two principal issues: the first is bringing negotiations on specific job-creation projects to a successful conclusion and, secondly, marketing the BOSE facility to other potential investors.

In relation to the first issue, I have announced two job-creation projects for Cavan/Monaghan in recent months, namely:

- The announcement by Combilift that it will invest €50 million in its facility in Monaghan town, supported my Department through Enterprise Ireland, resulting in the eventual creation of 200 permanent jobs as well as 200 construction jobs,

- The announcement by Lakelands Dairies that it will invest €36 million in its facility in Bailieborough, also supported by my Department through Enterprise Ireland, resulting in the creation of 81 permanent jobs as well as 180 construction jobs.

In relation to the second issue, finding a replacement industry for Carrickmacross remains a very high priority. I have been in regular contact with IDA Ireland to ensure that everything possible is being done to market the facility abroad through IDA’s network of overseas offices. The premises are privately owned and leased by BOSE. Both the building itself and the skilled workforce already there are strong selling points.

I have also ensured that Enterprise Ireland is likewise marketing the facility to its client base. It is worth noting that indigenous Irish companies in Co. Monaghan supported by my Department through Enterprise Ireland have performed very well in recent years with the creation of 650 jobs in the period from 2011 to 2014. For each job created in an Enterprise Ireland-supported company, an additional job is created elsewhere in the economy through supply companies and support services.

Representatives of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland met with Monaghan County Council delegation on 23 September and had an in-depth discussion regarding the BOSE facility. There will be follow up discussions in January 2016. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland continue to work closely with the local authority in relation to this matter.

I have committed to developing an Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) for every region. An Action Plan for Jobs for the border region is in preparation at present. The border APJ will seek to maximise the strengths and assets of the region to support enterprise growth and job creation and to build on the progress that has already been made.