Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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291. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions she has taken to protect jobs at Bord na Móna and put supports in place for employees that will be made redundant on a voluntary basis; if she has spoken with the management of the company regarding these job losses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46517/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate how difficult the recent announcement by Bord na Móna is for the workers affected, their families and their communities.

As the Deputy is aware, Bord na Móna is a commercial State company with a mandate to develop the midlands region. The company are taking these steps now to set out a strategy that takes into account its obligation to operate in a decarbonised economy.

I welcome that the redundancies are being sought on a voluntary basis and that extensive consultation will take place with the workers in the coming weeks. I also welcome that the Board and Management of Bord na Móna in outlining their plans are committed to ensuring that the company will be able to provide long-term, sustainable employment for the Midlands, including up to 500 new jobs in new areas of the business.

I want to assure the Deputy that all relevant State supports are being made available to the workers impacted by the announcement. Bord na Móna will provide additional supports to workers who opt for redundancy, including reskilling opportunities.

My Department together with its agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, will also step up their own work in seeking to support entrepreneurship and new investment in the Midlands. Specifically, they are engaging with the Bord na Móna Transition Team set up by Offaly County Council. All agencies are involved in this initiative.

The Midlands has had strong employment growth in recent years, with 15,300 extra people at work since 2015. Specifically, in 2017, 819 client companies of the Local Enterprise Offices added 387 new employees, making a total of 4,214 employees. There have been a series of very positive job creation announcements in the Midlands in recent years and we expect these trends to continue.

Recent announcements include: Leetha Industries (100 jobs), Center Parcs (1,000 jobs plus 750 jobs during construction), Neudea Technologies (200 jobs) and Glanbia with its US partner Leprino (78 jobs plus 250 jobs during construction). I was also pleased to launch a new Irish Manufacturing Research CLG project located in Mullingar in December last year as one of the significant funding recipients under the first call of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, which will be an important support to manufacturing activity in the Midlands region.

My Department is also actively collaborating with the Midlands Regional Action Plan for Jobs Committee in refreshing its Action Plan. I understand the Committee is actively considering the impact of the recent announcement and the potential opportunities in the green economy that could be included in the work of the Committee as part of its forthcoming Action Plan.