Castlebar Jobs Breakthrough



Connaught Telegraph 13 November 1996


Timetable for APC jobs given in writing
By
Tom Gillespie

American Power Conversion have given a written confirmation to the Industrial Development Authority that their proposed plant for Castlebar will be in production by June of next year, employing 245 workers.

The company will formally purchase the facility at Breaffy Road, part of the old Travenol complex, on December 1 after which immediate recruitment will commence.

The breakthrough was announced by the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Mr. Enda Kenny, at a function in the Travellers Friend Hotel & Theatre, to mark the 21st anniversary of his election to Dail Eireann.

Afterwards Minister Kenny commented: "Confirmation has been given by APC of their intention to take up the proposal to site in Castlebar and they have laid out a timetable for going into production.

"APC have given written confirmation to the IDA that they proposed to purchase finally the Castlebar facility on December 1, that they have instructed their personnel man in Ireland, Joe White to start recruitment, that they expect to be in production by June of 1997 and that they intend to employ 245 employees.

"I don't know what other confirmation one can give, this is a signed document from the vice president of the association with whom all the dealings have been going on.

"This really is only confirmation of what we already said. A special endorsement has been given by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Richard Bruton, that it was perfectly in order for APC to start up operations in Castlebar despite that fact that they had difficulties with two of the other site locations in

Ireland. "This is written conformation of what we knew. But it also sets out a timetable once and all."

Minister Kenny said the matter of primary importance was to get the Castlebar operation up and running.

"I am very happy that conformation in writing has been given to that timetable and this concludes outstanding negotiations that were going on between the IDA and themselves.

"This is good news for Mayo and I hope hat the job content contained there will actually expand that within a couple of years", he said.

This is how Minister Kenny informed the 520 people who had gathered at his 21st anniversary celebrations.

"Let me read you a message I have from the Vice- President of operations and Treasurer Mr. Edward W. Machala which came into the IDA.

"Thank you for your fax dated November 1. Which I have discussed with Messrs Connolly and Godwin.

"I am pleased to confirm that APC will proceed with the Castlebar project according to the following timetable. APC will purchase the Castlebar facility on December 1, 1996 at the revised purchase price and immediately commence modifications and outfitting of the facility.

"I have instructed Mr. Joe Whyte of APC Galway, Ireland to immediately commence recruitment for Castlebar.

"APC plans to be in full production by June 1997.

"APC plans to hire approximately 240 employees in the Castlebar facility.

"I confirm that you may brief your Prime Minister as stated above that these revised plans may be publicly announced as is deemed appropriate."

Chamber Welcome APC Commitment

Castlebar Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the announcement that the APC jobs are to come on stream next year.

Chamber President, Mr. Frank Greene congratulated Minister Kenny on his persistence over the last 18 months on keeping the pressure on the IDA to deliver the plant to the town.

Mr. Greene said: "This is excellent news for Castlebar. It is something we have been pressing for over the past few years. "It is now important that APC be given every opportunity to get the plant in production so as to ensure their long-term commitment to Castlebar and the 245 workers who will be employed by the corporation.

"The Chamber assure APC of their full support and we will be available to help them in anyway we can."

Mr. Greene said but for the pressure placed on the IDA by Minister Kenny the matter would not have been resolved satisfactorily.

It was his wish, and that of the Chamber, that APC would consolidate their Castlebar operation and develop into one of their flagship facilities in Ireland.



Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - November 1996