A north Kilkenny councillor has called for Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to attract a high-tech manufacturing facility to Castlecomer.
Cllr John Brennan from Castlecomer was speaking in light of the closure of the Ormonde Brick factory which once again has closed its gates for several months due to the over-supply of bricks in the factory. Workers will be re-hired again in five month’s time.
Cllr Brennan said that the IDA and Enterprise Ireland should meet with the local business development community and town development association to open dialogue on the possibility of enticing a manufacturing plant that might offer high-tech jobs to the people of the area.
“Castlecomer has the highest rate of unemployment in Kilkenny and as we move further towards a knowledge-based economy, I think it is important for the future that we provide high end jobs for the town,” he said.
“We need to be investing more in education - not cutting back. The Community School in Castlecomer is a fine establishment and education is more important now more than ever and this school should be given all the support it needs,” he declared.
“I am calling on John McGuinness, the local Minister of State for Enterprise to put this meeting on top of his agenda for early 2009. This is part of his role as junior minister within that particular department, and I would like to see some action on this matter in the very near future,” he concluded.
