Written Answers. - Border Region.
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:
24
Dr. O'Hanlon
asked the
Minister for Enterprise and Employment
the new initiatives, if any, being considered to enhance the Border region in order to make it more attractive for inward investment and to offer greater encouragement for existing industries to grow; if he has satisfied himself with the rate of progress made since the ceasefire of August 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11595/96]
Brendan Smith
Question:
26
Mr. B. Smith
asked the
Minister for Enterprise and Employment
what additional measures, if any, have been taken since September 1994 to attract inward investment to the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13582/96]
Brendan Smith
Question:
40
Mr. B. Smith
asked the
Minister for Enterprise and Employment
what progress, if any, has been made to date in implementing measures to improve the industrial infrastructure of the Border region; what funding, if any, is being provided for such developments as referred to in his reply to a Parliamentary Question No. 27 from Deputy Mr. B. Smith of 25 January 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13583/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 26 and 40 together. A number of programmes and initiatives are operated by the industrial development agencies, my Department and the Departments of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Environment designed to improve the infrastructure of the Border areas and to attract and encourage an increase in employment in overseas and indigenous industry in the region.
IDA Ireland have developed the following programme for the Border region:
—to facilitate the construction of a 25,000 sq. ft. advance factory in Dundalk.
—to identify and acquire a substantial landbank in Drogheda for a new industrial park.
—to identify and acquire a site in Cavan Town for the construction of an advance factory.
—to review the availability of suitable industrial sites in North West/Donegal region.
—to develop a business park in Letterkenny. It is envisaged that a private developer will provide a 25,000 sq. ft advance factory on this site and it will be vigorously marketed.
Agreement has already been reached with a Sligo based developer for the provision of a 25,000 sq. ft. factory at Finisklin Industrial Estate, Sligo. Forbairt are actively promoting their total range of programmes and initiatives in the Border region and have been working closely with firms in the region with a view to increasing their sales and employment levels.
Arising out of the Washington Conference on Trade and Investment in Ireland, Forbairt have assisted the US Embassy in arranging a programme for 16 US companies to visit Northern Ireland and the Border region. Approximately 78 appointments were arranged for companies in the Border counties and other parts of Ireland. Negotiations on new business partnerships have taken place as a result and are still ongoing.
A number of pan Atlantic partnership programmes have been funded through the US Department of Commerce, the International Fund for Ireland and Forbairt with the objective of helping Irish firms, particularly in the Border counties, to grow through technology acquisition and/or strategic alliance with US partners.
The programmes, which include the Forbairt/IFI North American Partnership Programme, the Forbairt Small Business Administration (US) Partnership Programme and the American Management and Business Internship Programme (AMBIT) were all launched during 1995. I anticipate that they will contribute to the growth of participating companies from the Border region in the medium to long-term. Under the North American Partnership, the first phase of which was launched in April 1995, it is expected that 900 new high tech jobs will be created from the nine partnerships already formed. It is anticipated that ten companies per annum from the Border counties will participate in the AMBIT programme over the next three years. The county enterprise boards from the six Border counties have approved 682 projects worth £6 million in grants, of which almost £3 million was drawn down by the end of 1995. A further 81 projects worth £648,526 in grants have been approved so far in 1996.
The European Union through the Structural Funds supports a number of major programmes which apply throughout the Border region including the Operational Programme for Industrial Development 1994-99 and the Local Urban and Rural Development Programme 1994-99 under which the county enterprise boards are supported.
The EU also supports the Ireland/Northern Ireland INTERREG programme. Out of a total of £96 million available to Irish Border counties, £36 million has been specifically earmarked for the Department of the Environment to part fund the provision/improvement of roads and water and sewerage works. The improvement of such basic infrastructure is a prerequisite for the expansion of industrial development in the Border counties, as industrialists are most likely to choose to locate in areas where good infrastructural facilities exist.
Additional funds have also been made available under the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation for the provision of suitable industrial infrastructure. The administration of these funds is a matter for the Minister for Finance and I would refer the Deputy to the response given to a parliamentary question from Deputy O'Hanlon by the Minister for Finance on 21 May in this respect.
Finally I am aware that the International Fund for Ireland has contributed to the provision of community and workspace in the Border region. Administration of these funds is a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
