Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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298. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on efforts to secure alternative employment at a manufacturing plant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11906/26]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, in 2024 Cardinal Health made the decision to cease operations at its Tullamore site. My foremost concern, and that of the Government, continues to be for the staff and their families impacted by this company decision. My understanding is that expected closure timeline is now April 2026.

Since Cardinal Health’s announcement, IDA Ireland has implemented its established internal processes for dealing with situations of potential job losses with one of its client companies and IDA Ireland is actively engaged with the company. This includes meetings with Tullamore leadership on-site on a regular basis, and meetings with senior corporate leaders, and the IDA is actively exploring all avenues of opportunity for the site and impacted employees as a result of this announcement.

In addition, IDA is continuing to partner with local agencies, to support impacted employees due to the announcement by the company. There is an established process of coordinated engagement by support agencies at a local level to provide supports to employees in consultation with the company. The types of supports and initiatives provided by local agencies is continuing to be communicated to the site leadership and include some of the following:

• Outplacement employment support services and potential training opportunities provided/facilitated by the company and/or other providers (ETBs/Skillnet, etc) to support impacted employees.

• Provision of a detailed skills profile for the employees on the site, and when individuals will be available, which can be shared with potential employers.

• Recruitment opportunities through identification and connection with other employers who may be hiring across the locality and wider region.

• In the case of Cardinal Health, marketing of the property solution, when appropriate through agents appointed by the company and by IDA Ireland through its global office network.

• Information sessions by DSP/Intreo to impacted employees on social welfare services and employment support services to support impacted employees’ transition to new employment opportunities.

• Identification and provision of training and further education opportunities for employees (ETBs; Skillnet; Universities).

• Exploring opportunities to start your own business through LEOs and Enterprise Ireland.

IDA Ireland and all relevant local agencies will continue to support and assist the impacted employees, as and when appropriate. All stakeholders are conscious that the company continues to operate with a significant workforce and that job losses will happen on a phased basis whilst the site remains operational until the expected closure timeline of April 2026.

I should also note that the Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes certain legal obligations on employers proposing collective redundancies including-

• The requirement for a 30-day consultation period with employees and their representatives.

• Employers must notify the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment of the proposals at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes effect.

• Employers may not issue notices of redundancy during this period.

By law, it is also the responsibility of the employer in the first instance to pay statutory redundancy payments to eligible employees. In situations where an employer cannot pay statutory redundancy due to financial difficulties, the State provides a safety net and may pay statutory redundancy to eligible employees from the Social Insurance Fund.

Employees have the right to refer complaints to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on a wide range of employment law breaches for an adjudication and redress, including the right to refer a complaint should an employer fail to consult or provide certain information to employees in collective redundancy situations. The Customer Service area of the WRC can provide further information in relation to employment, equality and industrial relations rights and obligations.

In terms of the IDA response, I should emphasise that Regional Development is at the centre of IDA’s strategy. IDA is committed to the pursuit of more balanced, compact regional development which can deliver complementary efficiency and equity gains, with the overall impact of helping to advance national development. IDA Ireland utilises a range of strategies to maximise dispersal of FDI nationally, albeit individual companies ultimately take decisions on where to locate investments. IDA’s Regional focus leverages the wider demographic catchment of a region, the track record of existing client companies already located in the region, the availability of property and developed infrastructure assets and the presence of third level universities to provide a skilled talent pipeline for companies investing in the region. IDA’s Regional Development strategy is aligned with Government policy, including Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework (NPF).

A key aspect of the strategy is focused on maximising balanced regional development, with a target of securing 550 investments from a total of 1,000 between 2025-2029 - 55% - into regional locations. This ambitious target reflects IDA Ireland’s ongoing commitment to supporting transformation and growth across all regions. In 2025, 183 (57%) of the 323 investments secured by the IDA were in regional locations outside of Dublin. This is in line with IDA Ireland’s strategic objective to maximise regional growth.

There are 51 IDA client companies in the Midlands Region (Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath), employing 7,501 people - with 11 client-companies, including Cardinal, in Offaly employing 1,300 workers. The Midlands has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Life Sciences, Engineering, International Financial Services, Content, Consumer & Business Services and Technology.

The region has fostered strong collaborative links with Technological University of the Shannon, Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and additional stakeholders, for example Midlands ICT Network; Advanced Technology in Manufacturing (ATiM) Cluster; First Polymer Training Skillnet. Counties in the Midlands also benefit hugely from the direct and indirect employment generated by IDA client companies located within neighbouring regions.

Third Level Education for the region is provided by Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) which hosts c.15,000 students across six campuses within the Midlands and Midwest regions. TUS has strong industry links providing courses specifically designed for current and future business needs, from higher certificate through to degree, masters and doctorate levels, across four faculties, Business, Humanities, Engineering and Science, thus helping to further strengthen the potential of both the Midlands & Mid-West regions.

Educational training boards provide a valuable workforce enablement and development service to employers in the region. There are two ETBs based in the region – Longford Westmeath ETB and Laois Offaly ETB. The various Training Centres collaborate with industry to provide tailor made courses to their specific requirements.

Of course, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs also support enterprise and employment in the county.