The people of Wexford were extremely angry over the closure of the Wexford Weaving Co this week with the loss of 120 jobs - following the 150 jobs lost at Wexel in Enniscorthy a month ago. The "gloves are off", the fight was on and there was no going back, the Tanaiste Ms Harney, was told by Mr John Browne (FF, Wexford) during an adjournment debate in the House yesterday.
The unemployment figures in Wexford were among the worst in the country, he said - equivalent to three times the national unemployment average. There was real anger and frustration in the county at present as people saw thousands of jobs being created "across the country".
If there was a reason why Wexford was not getting the job announcements, this should be made known. IDA and Enterprise Ireland were a "dead loss", he said. "They have no interest in Co Wexford." There were "loads of reports" - what was now required were jobs. He called on the Minister to urge the job creation agencies to give Wexford "the priority it deserves".
His home town was "reeling" from the Wexford Weaving announcement, Mr Brendan Howlin (Labour, Wexford) said. Both Wexel and Wexford Weaving were long-established "traditional" industries and the combined job losses would have a considerable knock-on impact".
The Tanaiste said FAS, in conjunction with SIPTU, the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and Wexford Area Partnership would meet the workforce at Wexford Weaving on Thursday next "with a view to providing as much assistance as possible with CV preparation, skills audit, self-employment training and employment services".
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