Brian Stanley: Urgent call to replace Laois jobs after Leprino closure
Brian Stanley raised concerns in the Dáil about the lack of industrial investment in Laois and the imminent closure of the cheese factory, which will cost 132 jobs. He asked the Minister to press the IDA and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a concrete plan to replace those jobs and use IDA land outside Portlaois.
Issue raised in the Dáil
Brian Stanley highlighted that County Laois has only 156 IDA-backed jobs despite sitting at a crossroads of national routes (N7, N8, N77 and N80). He warned that the closure of Leprino - only three years on site - will remove 132 jobs and stressed the long daily commutes of over 12,000 workers from the county.
Local impact and infrastructure
Stanley pointed to over 60 acres of IDA-owned land outside Portlaois as available for new industry and linked the jobs issue to quality-of-life concerns such as traffic and two-hour commutes. He described the IDA and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment as having a blind spot on Leash despite national commitments to balanced regional development.
Government response
A Ministerial reply acknowledged the points and committed to raise the matter with Minister Peter Burke and the IDA. The Minister underlined Government support for the IDA and Enterprise Ireland and agreed to seek a direct response on plans to provide replacement employment for Leprino workers and to activate the IDA sites in Laois
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The Programme for Government sets out to create more jobs in the regions, outside of Dublin. But the IDA and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment seem to have a blind spot when it comes to County Leash. Despite Port Leash and Leash being on the crossroads of Ireland, i.e. the N7, N8, N77 and N80, the performance of the IDA and the Department in relation to Leash is dismal. There just remains 156 jobs, IDA-backed jobs, in the county. Over 12,000 workers commute out of the county every morning, some of them long distances, sitting for two hours. And very shortly, the Leprino cheese factory is due to close. It's only there three years, with a loss of 132 jobs. So what I'm asking you is, the reason I'm raising it with you is that we seem to be getting nowhere with this over the years. We've been raising it for three decades, and the figures have said the same, 150 or so jobs. So there's 132 jobs going. What's being done by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to get replaced with the industries for Leprino? There's over 60 acres owned by the IDA outside Port Leash to get industry onto those sites. Can you take it up with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and ask the Minister to put some speed on the IDA on this matter? Thanks very much to Deputy Stanley. The short answer is yes I will, and I'll speak to my colleague Minister Peter Burke in relation to this. Look, we're living in a country thankfully with full employment for 16 consecutive quarters, but we don't say that in any way complacently. We are seeing a turn, for want of a better phrase, in the jobs market as well, and there is no room for complacency, and that's why the IDA, who did have their most successful year last year ever, and EI are receiving a lot of government support. But your point about Leash and about the need to have a plan for replacement jobs for Leash and also for the use of the IDA land in Leash is a fair point, and also the point you're making around quality of life, traffic, congestion is also a fair point. We believe very passionately in balanced regional development. So on foot if you're raising this today, I'll ask Minister Burke to speak with the IDA and also to come back to you directly.
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