On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Mulligan

                SECONDED by Councillor Byrne

It was AGREED to suspend standing orders to discuss recent job losses at Exclusive Cigar Manufacturers Ireland (ECMI) factory in Ballaghadereen.  

Cllr. Mulligan thanked the Cathaoirleach for allowing him to discuss this important matter today and said the loss of 38 jobs in Ballaghaderreen is a huge blow to the town, following the decision of ECMI to move its operations to Sri Lanka.  A total of 348 jobs have been lost in recent years and the town cannot sustain this level of unemployment. He also questioned the company loyalty to the employees who were mostly women, and their entitlements to welfare.  It is imperative that replacement jobs are found.  He told the members that he has little faith in the IDA as statistics show they support one in every sixty-five jobs in Roscommon compared to one in eleven in Dublin, one in fifteen in Cork and one in thirty in Mayo.  Cllr. Mulligan would like to see Roscommon County Council take a lead on this issue and to look at what other Counties are doing such as Tyrone and Mayo who are focusing on Corporate America. He also highlighted the lack of services in the West that works against the provision of jobs.

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The members made the following comments:

·         The loss of 38 jobs in Ballaghaderreen is equivalent to loss of 20,000 jobs in Dublin. When the factory was bought in January, there was an expectation it would expand but the closure has come as a shock. This facility may not be suitable for new jobs in the future – it may be used as an EU depot for their products.

·         Complement the Dowd family who provided employment in this factory in Ballaghaderreen for years.

·         Members have to take a lead on this and put pressure on the Government as T.D.’s and Ministers are not delivering services for rural Ireland or Roscommon. Revitalisating rural Ireland will come from a  bottom up approach via the local people.

·         Focus on Athlone becoming a Hub so it can provide the impetus to securing more jobs in its adjacent towns.

·         Broadband, road and rail infrastructure and upgrading hospital facilities is a priority.

·         Challenges for those who are losing their jobs to upskill and an opportunity get new jobs.

·         Need to work with S.M.E.’s to help create new jobs.

·         Ballaghaderreen is strategically located beside Knock Airport it is difficult to understand why it has not benefited from this.

·         NWRA is located in Ballaghaderreen who have expertise to deal with these matters and should become involved.

·         IDA has not delivered jobs to county Roscommon – we need to question their policy. Taxpayers money should be diverted from IDA and straight to the county to deliver jobs.

·         Loss of €1m in wages to local economy and loss of rates to county.

·         When did the last large employer locate in County Roscommon? It is twenty years since companies like Harmac in Castlerea located in the county.

·         Roscommon County Council is in partnership with other Local Authorities in the Rhode Island Trade Centre to promote tourism and trade.

·         Delegations to the US are very important in trying to source jobs for Roscommon. Municipal District members should be included in foreign trips.

The Chief Executive thanked all of the members for their contributions and said it was very important to debate this issue. The loss of jobs has been devastating for the employees and the area. A deputation should be organised to meet the Minister and some thought should be put into the preparation for the meeting. The deputation should be led by Roscommon County Council. Roscommon needs to maximise its opportunities and to engage with S.M.E.’s as this is where the future jobs in the county will come from.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Byrne

                SECONDED by Councillor Cummins

It was AGREED that Roscommon County Council take the lead in dealing with the job losses and a task force set consisting of the members and executive to put a proposal together for submission to Government.

On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Callaghan

                SECONDED by Councillor Mulligan

It was AGREED to setup a deputation comprising of the six Boyle MD Councillors, the Cathaoirleach and two members of the Council Executive to meet with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’Connor, T.D.

  On the PROPOSAL of Councillor Connaughton

                SECONDED by Councillor Dineen

It was AGREED to that a Councillor from each Municipal District should accompany the Cathaoirleach on his annual trip to the U.S. to market Roscommon and encourage investment in their home county.