This article is from page 2 of the 2006-02-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
A CLARE TD is warning that “a crisis” is developing concerning the decentralisation of Enterprise Ireland staff to Shannon.
It has been revealed that just 19 existing employees of the national jobs creation company have indicated their willingness to transfer to Shannon out of a total staff of 300 needed to make the move a reality.
Numerous residential and business developments have gone ahead in Shannon on the understanding that there would be an influx of business from the Enterprise Ireland decentralisation process.
Deputy Pat Breen (FG) has called for Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheal Martin to clarify the transfer arrangements to be put in place for Shannon Development staff, who would find themselves redundant after Minister Martin announced the removal of their enterprise support function last year.
“Minister Martin has already spoken of ‘developing the indigenous enterprise base in the region’ and I am calling on him to utilize the skills base that exists with Shannon Development by enabling the personnel specialised in enterprise support to use their skills in Enterprise Ireland.”
Replying to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Deputy Breen, Minister Martin said that the number of applications for transferring to Shannon received from within the civil and public service, including his own department, amounted to 33, giving an overall total of 52 people, but that it was “too early to comment definitively on a timescale for the transfer of Enterprise Ireland’s headquarters to Shannon”.
A 13-acre site owned by Shannon Development is under negotiation as Enterprise Ireland’s proposed headquarters.
Deputy Breen said: “This figure is far short to the numbers and the quality of personnel required to run an effective national development agency.
“With just 19 of the existing Enterprise Ireland staff willing to relocate, the agency will be facing a crisis of appropriately-qualified personnel if immediate plans are not put in place and the uncertainty removed over Shannon Development changes.”
Deputy Breen added that a similar crisis was developing within the Irish Aviation Authority where 100 staff were due to transfer to Shannon under the Department of Transport’s decentralisation plans.
Transport Minister Martin Cullen said just two employees had indicated a wish to move and 11 expressions of interest had been received from external applicants.
Meanwhile, just 93 applications have been made out of the 779 posts moving to Limerick under the Revenue Commissioners banner.