Laois TD blasts IDA and highlights the plight of Laois factory workers in the Dáil

The plight of the 132 workers at Leprino Foods in Portlaoise was raised in the Dáil by Independent Laois TD Brian Stanley on Wednesday. 

The workers were informed last month that the plant was closing next year and production in Laois would be moved to Northern Ireland and Wales. 

“This is an important facility. When it opened there were great hopes and I certainly had great hope because at last we had a large, substantial manufacturing plant in the constituency,” Dep Stanley said. 

He said the record of IDA Ireland has not been good in Laois. He pointed out that over 12,000 people commute out of Laois to work every day, with many travelling to Dublin. 

“We need to change that. We need to create more jobs in the constituency. Some of those 132 people who will lose their jobs are couples and the Minister of State can imagine the impact of that if they have mortgages or such commitments,” said Dep Stanley.  

“For IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, the record regarding Laois is awful. There are only 154 jobs in IDA Ireland-backed companies in the county. It is the lowest number in the State. IDA Ireland made two visits to Laois in the past 12 months. Some of its visits are e-visits; they are not physical visits. In 2021, it made three visits; in 2022 two visits and last year, two visits. It is the worst record of IDA Ireland performance I can see in the charts I have. Westmeath had 20 visits and I do not take that from it. That is well and good for Westmeath,” said Dep Stanley. 

He told the Dáil that Laois County Council had “pulled out all the stops” and created a business park. 

“Lots of jobs and new industry are being created in that business park, including Alpha Drives where the Laois Rose of Tralee works as an apprentice electrician. She started there. It is great to have those jobs. Laois County Council has been supporting start-ups and, as I said, it developed the Togher business park, which is at the crossroads of Ireland. It is on the junction of the N7, N8 and N80,” he said. 

In contrast, Dep Stanley said, IDA Ireland has not performed in Laois and has hardly been seen around the county. 

“In the past, we heard all the excuses. The location was the problem. Now the motorways are there. The N80 is being upgraded by the county council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. As I said, the Togher business park is at the crossroads of Ireland. Lack of infrastructure was another excuse. Now, in the centre of Laois we have first-class infrastructure, including roads. This is less than 1 km from the junction of the N7, N8 and N80,” he pointed out. 

Dep Stanely said “a lack of serviced land used to be cited as a problem. We do not have that now. We have the Togher business park developed by the council and there are 50 acres owned by IDA Ireland less than one km away from the council's site. The Minister of State will tell me she cannot direct the IDA to do this, that or the other, but questions need to be asked of IDA Ireland about Laois.”

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise,  Emer Higgins, said Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, extended his sympathies to the workers and their families. 

“The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the Department of Social Protection will support the company and its employees in any way they can,” said Minister Higgins.

Minister Higgins said: “As the Deputy said, 145 people are currently employed across five IDA Ireland-supported companies in County Laois. He expressed dissatisfaction with the growth in that area and in particular with the number of visits IDA Ireland has undertaken to the county and I will pass that message on to the Minister. However, as he pointed out, we now have new motorways, upgraded infrastructure, and upgraded and new serviced sites, all because of Government investment. These are going to make County Laois an even more effective location for investment.”

Dep Stanley said “if 145 people are employed in IDA-backed companies in Laois, that is actually a decline of nine from the last figures. It is very disappointing. A question has to be asked about why Laois is being ignored time and again.”

READ MORE: Deep disappointment as Laois cheese plant announces closure

“I want the Minister of State to bring this to the senior Minister, Deputy Burke's attention. Why is Laois being ignored time and again? What is the IDA doing about developing the 50-acre site that it owns on the edge of Portlaoise? Nothing has happened there yet. What is the IDA doing, along with Enterprise Ireland, to get a replacement industry into the Leprino factory?” said Dep Stanley. 

He said “two visits in a year is an awful record for a State-backed body and it needs to change.”

Minister Higgins said “the IDA acquired 18.46 ha of land adjacent to the business and technology park in Portlaoise in October 2022 and an additional 4.25 ha last year. That land is currently available for promotion on the business and technology park in Portlaoise and is almost 30 ha at this point. IDA Ireland continues to assist Enterprise Ireland companies with their property requirements as they set up and scale.”