Questions for IDA on east Cork job outlook

THE IDA will be quizzed today on what it is doing to find new jobs for east Cork in the wake of the shock collapse of the 1,100-job Amgen project last year.

A delegation from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment will meet senior IDA officials at the firm’s abandoned site in Carrigtwohill this morning.

They are on a two-day fact-finding mission to economic blackspots in Cork, Tipperary and Waterford.

Fine Gael spokeswoman on innovation Deirdre Clune said: “There have been a number of severe job losses in east Cork in recent years and Amgen was hailed as the project to get the area back on its feet.

“We want to know what steps are being taken to find replacement jobs for this area.”

The town has been ravaged by almost 2,000 jobs losses over the last decade.

Business and political leaders in Youghal will tell the committee today the planned decentralisation of two Government departments must happen soon.

There are plans to move the 100-job Public Appointments Service to the seaside town but only 28 people have applied to move with the Rateable Valuations Office, which has 100 vacancies.

There are buildings which could accommodate the staff while the Office of Public Works (OPW) builds offices.

But the OPW, which has bought a site, hasn’t even applied for planning permission.

County councillor Barbara Murray said: “In the interim we should move swiftly and get them into vacant buildings until the purpose-built one is ready. I know of at least four buildings in the town which would do,” said Cllr Murray.

Youghal-based Sinn Féin councillor Martin Hallinan said somebody raises the jobs issue with him every day.

“Unfortunately the relevant ministers have not given the priority to this issue it needs,” he said.

“We need an active policy of developing employment in these towns hard hit by job losses over the past number of years.”

Committee chairman Willie Penrose said he wanted to meet those working on the ground to establish what needs to be done.

“They have the local experience and knowledge and can best identify the difficulties they face and the solutions that are required,” he said.