Martin saves Blindcraft from closure

The threatened closure of a state factory which employed blind people was averted by Health Minister Michael Martin tonight.

The threatened closure of a state factory which employed blind people was averted by Health Minister Micheál Martin tonight.

A working group is to be set up to decide the future of the 36-strong workforce at Blindcraft in Inchicore, Dublin.

The decision was announced following a meeting today between Blindcraft representatives, SIPTU, and the Department of Health.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said the group was expected to report before the end of the year.

“The minister stressed nothing would be done to undermine the economic status of the workers,” she said.

SIPTU said the sentence of death hanging over the agency had been lifted.

Dublin Regional Secretary Patricia King said: “The minister has given a guarantee that the economic status of employees will not suffer, whatever direction the agency takes in the future.”

The Blindcraft factory was set up in 1957 by ministerial order to facilitate students leaving schools for the blind. It employs 27 blind people and nine sighted people to manufacture high quality bedding, fine furniture and toiletries.

It had been threatened with closure following the Prospectus report into the health service. It recommended the abolition of the Board for the Employment of the Blind, which oversees the Blindcraft factory and provided it with an annual subvention of 630,000 euro from the Department of Health every year.

SIPTU shop steward Paula Dorrington said, “I feel very positive that there will be jobs for us all in Blindcrft leading into the future. I was very stressed and I feel a great weight has been lifted off me today.”