7 February 2000

ARDS ENTERPRISE TASK FORCE UPDATE - EMPEY

 Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has met Ards Borough Council for an update on the Task Force, set up last month as a direct result of the Minister’s urgent discussions with the Council, following announcements of significant job losses in the area.

 The remit of the Task Force is to attempt to save some of the jobs under threat, to help those made redundant seek alternative employment and to attract new inward investment.

 Speaking after the meeting the Minister said: "My officials are continuing to work with the companies facing difficulties and are discussing a number of possible options.

 "I have suggested to the Council that it should bring forward its plans to review the local skills base which will help identify training and retraining needs. This will make a valuable contribution and help the Council formulate its strategy for future economic development activity.

 "My officials from IDB and LEDU, together with officials from the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (DHFETE), as members of the Task Force, will continue to work closely on these issues and will offer help and guidance.

"I have advised the Council to consider how through its own economic development activity and in partnership with all these Government agencies, it can work to help those individuals in the Borough affected by these redundancies.

 "During our meeting councillors raised the issue of classification of social deprivation in the area against new Targeting Social Need (New TSN) policy.

 "I suggested that a formal response to the Government’s New TSN, Action Plan ‘Vision Into Practice’, should be submitted before the end of the consultation period which has now been extended until 28 February 2000."

 The Minister also referred to an Enterprise Awareness Day to be held on Saturday 19 February in the Queen’s Hall, which, for those who may be facing redundancy, will provide ideas and an opportunities to obtain advice and support at firsthand. LEDU also intend to run Enterprise Development courses on Products into Practice and Ideas Generation in the early Spring.