Employment blackspot to get 140 jobs

AN employment blackspot is to get 140 jobs in a major boost to the south-east.

Timber frame company IJM Timber Frame, from County Monaghan, is to bring 140 jobs to Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, over the next year.

The Monaghan company was one of several bidders for the old Comerama textile plant in Castlecomer. More than 160 jobs were lost at the factory when it closed its doors 17 months ago.

In a gesture of goodwill, the new company hopes to employ some of the Comerama workforce.

“Many of our innovative manufacturing processes require skilled employees and we plan to work with the key Government agencies like Enterprise Ireland and the Inter-agency Advisory Forum to help those who worked in Comerama,” said IJM general manager Peter McCaughey.

He said that the expansion to Castlecomer tied in with IJM’s planned growth.

The 120,000 sq ft factory on a 10-acre site will be the base for manufacturing, design and technical teams with production building up over the summer.

Full production is envisaged for early 2005, a key date in the IJM calendar, as it marks the 40th anniversary of the setting up of the business. “The move enables us to offer even better service to our potential and existing customers throughout Ireland,” said Mr McCaughey.

He said that Castlecomer was a strategic location for the recruitment of skilled workers and technical staff.

“We will need a wide variety of skills not just on the shop floor but a plant manager, operations manager and other key functions,” he added.