The Sinn Féin TD for the Limerick City Constituency which includes parts of County Clare, has said the loss of 240 jobs at the Roche factory in Clarecastle will be a major blow to the area.
Deputy Maurice Quinlivan, the party’s spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, said the area needs prioritisation from the IDA and that education and training courses should be made available for the workforce to help them to find alternative employment.
He said; “Roche in Clarecastle has been a major employer in the area for more than 40 years. The loss of this site and these jobs will be a major blow to the area.
“The announcement that Roche was to pull out of Clarecastle was made in November with the company making a commitment to work with both Minister Bruton and the IDA to help to find an alternative investor for the site.
“Questions must be asked about what has happened in the intervening period.
“It is also clear that this area need to be prioritised by the IDA as there are just 12 site visits to County Clare by the IDA in 2015.
“Those people who have lost their jobs must be given access to proper education and training courses to help them to find alternative employment.
“I will be raising this issue in the Dáil at the earliest opportunity.”