Munster Express Online

Deputy Brian O’Shea recently put a parliamentary question to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment asking what further discussion she has had with the industrial development agencies with a view to securing replacement jobs in Waterford.

In a written reply, Minister Mary Coughlan (pictured) said – as she did in response to a similar question last November – that “IDA Ireland continues to actively promote the Waterford region to overseas investors.”

Currently there are 31 IDA Ireland supported companies in the City and County employing approximately 5,960 people.

“Clear evidence of a transition to more knowledge-based and higher value activity is seen in the resilience of companies such as Bausch and Lomb, Honeywell, and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as newer additions to the county’s portfolio, such as Citi Hedge Fund Services, Genzyme and Sun Life Financial”, she asserted.

The Tánaiste added that “key interventions in support of attracting investment in recent years have been the development of the Waterford Business & Technology Park (28 hectares), the Dungarvan Business Park (additional 14 hectares developed) and a large scale 55-ha greenfield site in Belview, specifically targeted for larger-scale utility intensive overseas investments.

“A further 20-hectare site (Knockhouse lands) adjacent to the Genzyme facility on the Kilmeaden road in Waterford City is also available for Greenfield investment. In addition, Enterprise Ireland and the Cork County Enterprise Board offer a range of supports to businesses to facilitate them in the creation and retention of jobs, and to assist those wishing to start their own business,” she said.

Crystal application

Meanwhile, Deputy O’Shea also asked the Tánaiste the position regarding the European globalisation adjustment fund application containing proposals for the co-financing of a range of measures including occupational guidance, training, upskilling, entrepreneurship and educational opportunities for a total of 653 workers who were made redundant at Waterford Crystal.

She said the application was submitted to the European Commission on September 25th last and has been circulated to the appropriate authorities for consideration.

“Thereafter, and subject to any further clarifications required, the application will be placed before the College of Commissioners for approval.

“The application must also be considered and approved subsequently by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. This procedure can, as in the previous case of the application lodged by Ireland on behalf of redundant DELL workers, take a significant period of time to complete”, she stressed. [Jamie O’Keeffe]