Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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370. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action he has taken to protect jobs at a company (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38266/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My first thoughts are with the workers and their families as they received this very difficult news that the company is formally initiating a 30 day consultation period on possible closure, which would result in the loss of 79 of the 106 workers currently employed there. This situation arises as a result of a review by the parent company of its global manufacturing operations, in the context of increased competitive pressures. IDA has worked with the company intensively in an effort to minimise the impact of this process for the Irish operations. I myself have spoken directly to senior executives of the company both globally and in Ireland and urged them to reconsider their decision. However the competitive pressures facing the company appear to be very significant. IDA Ireland will continue to engage with the company in an effort to explore all possible routes that could mitigate the impact of this process and, in the event of a decision being made to cease operations, I have asked that agency to intensify its efforts to pursue a replacement project. In addition, supports from the relevant State bodies to the affected employees will be put in place as and when required.

I have also urged the company to provide as generous as possible a package for departing workers.

You will appreciate that while I and my Agencies seek to mitigate any potential loss of jobs, the final decision rests with the company, which will come to a conclusion based on the wider interest of their business.

Job creation in the Mid-East Region of which County Meath is a part, has improved considerably and the most recent data shows that at the end of Quarter 2 of this year the unemployment rate in that region stood at 8.7%, compared to 14.5% just two years previously. While this is still too high, it represents a very significant achievement.