Minister for Enterprise meets with Waterford businesses left reeling after Tycor fire

Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said Government will be utilising a multi-faceted approach in its support for businesses and social enterprises effected by a large-scale fire at the Tycor Business Centre in Waterford City.

The fire first began on Saturday, May 9, after 6 pm. Approximately 35 businesses were directly impacted by the fire, with around 200 employees left facing an uncertain future.

Speaking at the Tower Hotel in Waterford City on Tuesday, May 12, Minister Burke said the supports will be tailored to individual businesses. Following a closed-door meeting in the Tower Hotel, owners filled in a survey in an effort to gauge their individual requirements.

Guarantees for the provision of social welfare were given to businesses.

“We have to get exact clarity on the ‘ask’ first,” said Minister Burke.

“Some people have insurance, some not, some are underinsured, we need to know exactly what each requires.

“That’s why we’re working with the local authority, they’ll collate the results of this survey, bring it forward to Government and then we’ll respond quickly as a Government.

“I can absolutely understand the pressure people are under, people want immediate responses, we’ll act as quicky as possible."

"Back to Business" scheme

Waterford City and County Council’s Economic Development Department, alongside the Local Enterprise Office, have announced “The Tycor Back to Business Support Scheme.” 

A spokesperson for the Council said the scheme “is designed to ensure that appropriate supports are made available to affected businesses and organisations, and that recovery efforts are aligned across all relevant services.” 

“As an immediate priority, a comprehensive assessment of businesses, social enterprises, and community groups will be undertaken by Waterford City and County Council’s Economic Development department to establish the full extent of the impact.”

“I can absolutely understand the pressure people are under, people want immediate responses, we’ll act as quicky as possible.

 Waterford Minister of State for Local Government and Planning John Cummins suggested that other businesses could avail of support from the private sector to find commercial properties to inhabit.

“It’s true to say that premises are not in plentiful supply, but we have had some offers from people who own businesses, who’ve contacted the local authority, to help out,” Minister Cummins said.

“People reach out to me as well. It may be a matching exercise in terms of that, but it is going to be a challenge going forward, finding suitable premises for everybody.”  

"Up in the air"

Speaking after the closed-door meeting, business owners expressed mixed emotions. 

Blánaid MacCann left the meeting admittedly confused.

“I’ve to do a bit of studying…to see what support I can get, to see if it's sufficient,” she said.

“(The mood) got a little bit tetchy...they haven’t given any timeline in terms of when we can get insurance assessors in to assess the place, and we won’t get anything from insurance until then.” 

James Brennan of Corlann (formerly the Brothers of Charity) was involved in the caretaking of intellectually disabled adults at the site.

“There was no information on timelines, and that’s a difficulty (for a lot of business owners), a lot of the businesses hadn’t been damaged by fire, but the contamination is there.

“A lot of the people we support, that’s the fulcrum of their week, it's things that they’re familiar with, surroundings they’re familiar with, that’s removed now.

“The staff have stepped up, they were on the site on Sunday morning, providing that wraparound support for those people and that’s going to continue for a couple days more.” 

Jean Upton, co-owner of the Waterford Centre for Music, said the future of her businesses remains “up in the air.” 

“They’re talking about supports in place which is great now, but moving forward, at the moment, I can’t see a way out of this,” she said.

“There’s going to be social welfare supports and things like that, but its not going to replace people’s wages.

“They have a special designated team set up, that are going to deal with all of the social welfare claims, but with regards to anything else, there was nothing concrete.”

Andrew Hepburn, owner of DG Foods Ltd, said the Government were “talking a good talk.”

“Each individual needs different supports, some need cash, some need premises, some need equipment.

“It started off positive, got a bit heated, but at the end of it it calmed…I’m hopeful.” 

Dr Elsadig Abdelnour is a leader with the Sudanese Community Centre, which he says caters to around 300 members.

He said its less clear how social enterprises like his will regrow in the wake of the fire and how he will find an alternative premises for the community centre.