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Statement from Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD on announcement by Talk Talk

My thoughts are with the workers impacted by this announcement by TalkTalk, as well as their families.

I have spoken at length to the company CEO and strongly urged the company to continue operations in Waterford. In the event that the company proceeds with closure, I urged her to provide a longer period to allow the government to pursue alternative solutions.

I have had extensive contact with the IDA and the other enterprise support agencies on this matter. I have asked the IDA to ensure that they make every possible effort to find alternative solutions for this excellent premises and this skilled workforce in the event that the site is closed, as proposed by the company. They assure me that work on this has already started.

I have made contact with my colleagues the Minister for Education and the Minister for Social Protection and they have assured me that all possible information on training and social welfare entitlements will be made available to workers.

I am making arrangements to travel to Waterford in the next week to meet workers, management, as well as local political and business representatives, to listen to their concerns and to offer the assistance of all relevant government bodies to provide support to workers at this extremely difficult time.