Jobs blow for Belmullet as 70 losses announced

Jobs blow strikes Belmullet


70 more jobs to go after closure of mushroom plant

Anton McNulty

INDIGENOUS companies in the Erris region need to be supported in order for them to grow and create employment, according to a local councillor, after confirmation yesterday that 70 jobs will be lost in the area.
Monaghan Mushrooms, which is based on a farm in Belmullet, employing 70 people, confirmed that it is to close its plant later this summer and relocate back to Monaghan. While the workers are mostly foreign nationals, the majority are expected to leave the area to work in other Monaghan Mushroom plants, and this is expected to have a negative impact on the local economy.
It is understood that the company has built a new farm in Monaghan which will replace the Belmullet operation, with transport costs a major factor in their decision. Údaras member, Ian McAndrew told The Mayo News that the 70 workers all contribute to the local economy and if they leave it will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the local economy.
“It looks like they are going to move to Monaghan where they have built a new farm up there. The travelling costs the company a fortune because the raw material has to come from Monaghan and the mushrooms have to go back there. The 70 employees are mostly foreign nationals but they all live in Belmullet and it is important that we keep them,” he said.
The job losses will be another significant blow to the town following the loss of 82 jobs at the ICT Eurotel call-centre, which closed last year. Unemployment in the Belmullet region rose last month to 1,033 and is expected to continue to rise following the completion of the Corrib gas terminal.
The likelihood of inward investment into the Erris region is remote in the current economic climate and calls have been made by the Erris Chamber of Commerce and local councillor Rose Conway-Walsh for more support to be given to local companies to grow.
“For a small area to lose that many jobs and have the workers taken out of the area will have a significant impact on the economy. Things are not looking good here. People here are desperate for work and with no jobs in the pipeline it is very worrying for the Erris area. There is potential in the development of wave energy but it will be some time before there are jobs from that and in the short-term things are not good. 
“We have problems with our infrastructure and we need investment in our roads and broadband and support small businesses. During the Celtic Tiger, everything was given to Foreign Direct Investment when we could have been building up indigenous businesses loyal to the locality. We need to support businesses here to be able to develop and grow to create jobs here,” she said.
Derek Reilly, President of Erris Chamber of Commerce said the job losses are another big blow to the area following the ICT closure and said it will be difficult for the area to compete for sustainable jobs.
“While we want Údaras na Gaeltachta to be fighting our corner and do what they can we realise that every part of the county is looking for jobs. These employees lived and spent in the area and if they move when the jobs go it will be a big blow to the area. We would be looking for more indigenous businesses can be set up here and employ more local people.
“We feel they are more loyal to the area compared to multi-nationals who leave once the grant aid is spent and this is supported by the likes of SeΡn Noone and Tom Duffy who set up locally and remain in the area. There has been no support for start-up businesses and we should help the two person company and help them to grow. There is nothing else coming in,” he said.