INTERVENTION by Invest Northern Ireland (INI) in order to safeguard the future of the ailing Londonderry manufacturing plant Arntz Belting Company is one option being considered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI).
The struggling Pennyburn factory currently employs around 110 people. Due to the global economic downturn the firm went to a three-day week in December and also sought 28 redundancies in March.
Now Trade Minister Arlene Foster said her Department
will "intervene if an when appropriate" to aid the stricken plant which has not received any money from INI since 1997.
Responding to a query Mrs Foster said: "I am aware that Optibelt, the Parent Company of Arntz Belting Company Ltd is considering a number of options as a result of global economic downturn. As yet no decision has been made to close two factories nor specific factories identified.
"Invest NI officials have kept me aware of challenges facing the Arntz Belting Company factory at Pennyburn, Londonderry. On my behalf, Invest NI continue to liaise with the Company in relation to long-term plans for the Pennyburn Factory with a view to intervening if and when appropriate.
"The Company have not received any funding from Invest NI since 1997. All obligations under previous offers have been fulfilled. There are, therefore, no clawback issues."
