Mitchelstown faces ‘meltdown’

THE Government was accused yesterday of ignoring a north Cork town facing “economic meltdown”.

Mitchelstown Business Association (MBA) said the Government had turned its back on the town’s Dairygold workers and families.

At a crisis meeting in Cork yesterday, just days after Dairygold announced its decision to shut its Mitchelstown pig processing operation, MBA chairman Tony Lewis demanded immediate action.

They want the Government to:

Set up of a task force to plan for the economic development of the town.

Source large scale enterprises.

Establish a comprehensive, long-term FÁS employment training scheme.

Establish enterprise or incubator units for start-up companies.

Set up a proper town management structure.

Give Mitchelstown special tax designation status.

Improve the town’s infrastructure.

Since 2000, almost half of the 1,500 Dairygold jobs in Mitchelstown have been shed, Mr Lewis said. He said a further 200 job losses are on the way.

Taking into account Dairygold’s lost wages and the knock-on effect, the cost to North Cork’s economy could be in the order of €30m, he said.

“By any standards, this is a huge blow and may be set to continue to the point where upwards of two thirds of the 3,000-strong Dairygold workforce will be gone by the end of this rationalisation process. This is far worse that the closures of Krupps in Limerick, Digital in Galway, or GSI in Macroom, all of which were followed by immediate Government action.”

Despite meetings with Tánaiste Mary Harney and subsequent promises, Mr Lewis said nothing had been done. “How far does Mitchelstown have to fall before Government intervention?” he asked.

MBA member Paudie Fitzgibbon said there was an air of despair in Mitchelstown.

Hundreds of people are expected to march through the town later today to highlight the devastating effect Dairygold’s job losses are having on the town.

The MBA said they would encourage businesses in the town to shut down for the duration of the rally, which leaves the bacon factory on the Dublin side of the town at 3.30pm, heading for Dairygold headquarters.

The IFA said media reports that it was involved in the organising of today’s rally were not accurate.