THE Government is hopeful that General Motors - Packard Electric's parent company - will agree to part with the site of the plant in Tallaght as a base for future jobs.
The property, 15 acres and 120,000 square feet of modern factory buildings, will be a major part of discussions between the management and the IDA as Packard prepares to wind up by July. They will also discuss outstanding grant liabilities of £2 million.
Senior sources last night said they hoped that a transfer to the State of ownership of the plant, or part of the property, could occur as part of a package agreed with the company.
The special task force set up by the Government to tackle the crisis met for three hours last night in Tallaght Regional Technical College under the chairmanship of Mr Dan Tierney.
The group will meet again tomorrow morning and will continue meeting "every second day, if possible", according to Mr Tierney.
Speaking after the meeting, he said members of the group did not have sufficient information yet to predict success but they were conscious of the "very short time scale before the calamity" of the plant's closure.
"We hope to deliver but it won't be easy. We'll need a lot of luck and a few breaks but we're hopeful," he said.
As a first step, the task force has asked the IDA to clarify the company's attitude towards the disposal of the Tallaght site. It was also asking the relevant State agencies to identify possible large scale industries to replace Packard, Mr Tierney said, but it would equally explore the option of numerous small enterprises filling the gap.
Mr Liam Berney, of the ATGWU, said he was impressed by the "tremendous enthusiasm for doing something" at last night's meeting. The first focus of the group was to get General Motors to take "some kind of responsibility" for the Packard workers, he said, adding: "In fairness to Pat Rabbitte, he seems to be pulling out all the stops."
Launching the task force Mr Rabbitte stressed the urgency of the problem. He asked the group - to present proposals for action "as early as possible".
Tallaght RTC, which is represented in the group, has put forward proposals involving The "upskilling" of people affected by the Packard closure, he added.
Mr Rabbitte said the IDA would be working with Delphi Packard in the US to make "appropriate arrangements" to secure the premises in Tallaght for an alternative investor and to enlist the services of the company to, "assist in other respects".
He regretted a mistaken impression had been created which characterised Packard as a place with industrial relations difficulties. This was not the case. There had been no industrial disruption and no time lost at Packard since 1987 and workers had introduced a broad range of changes sought by management.
As the quest for replacement jobs got under way, Opposition parties called on General Motors to make a benevolent gesture to the Tallaght area. Fianna Fail's deputy leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke, said the company should set up "an ample fund" to assist the task force.
"After 21 years of blood, sweat and tears from a good workforce, one would expect at least this kind of financial gesture," she added.
Welcoming the establishment of the task force, the leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Hamey, said it was "in itself" an insufficient response and must be backed up with action. The Government must also secure a commitment from the company to make a "contribution", including the possibility of the donation of the plant.
The site could be used as the base for a new enterprise centre to attract jobs to the area.