Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 1

Written Answers. - Economic Development.

Ivor Callely

Question:

105 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, contained within his Department's economic and promotional objectives in relation to northside of Dublin city; the measures, if any, he has taken to encourage such economic development on the northside; the additional measures, if any, he has considered in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6426/97]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

Dublin and the east region generally have been very successful in securing a large proportion of inward investment projects over the last number of years. The record rate of growth for 1996 recently reported by IDA Ireland, in terms of its national performance, is due very substantially to the exceptional capability of the east region to attract so high a proportion of mobile investment.

In 1996, the total number of jobs created in IDA-assisted companies in the Dublin region was 6,163. IDA client companies on the Northside of Dublin city have grown particularly well in recent years. The total number of jobs created in Forbairt-assisted companies in the Dublin region for 1996 was 3,545. Shortly after Forbairt was established it reviewed the needs of the Dublin region and appointed in 1995, for the first time, a new area manager for Dublin North.

Through its area manager, Forbairt is working closely with various groups in developing a strategic plan for Dublin North. These include Northside Partnership, Ballymun Partnership, Finglas/Cabra Partnership, Blanchardstown Partnership, Dublin City University, IDA Ireland, NorDubCo., Fingal County Council, Dublin City Enterprise Board, Balbriggan Enterprise, URBAN, Aer Rianta, FÁS and Dublin Corporation.

Forbairt is also actively involved with the Dublin City Enterprise Board and Finglas Partnership in carrying out a space audit of the Finglas area, to identify space availability, land available for development and the potential demand for future industrial units in the area. In addition, the enterprise sub-committee of the Northside Partnership, on which Forbairt is represented, is in the process of commencing an audit of the overall situation in the area which will specifically focus on the availability of space for small businesses in the area. The study will be carried out in co-operation with DCU and will be part-funded by Forbairt.

Forbairt is currently working closely with approximately 450 small businesses in the North Dublin area in order to build competitiveness, capability and capacity in Irish industry through the provision of a comprehensive range of financial and development supports which are designed to position Irish companies to achieve Forbairt's core objective of increased sales and employment.

Since the CEBs were established in late 1993, those in the Dublin region have approved almost 700 projects which have resulted in the creation of over 1,000 full time jobs. The northside area of Dublin City Enterprise Board and Finglas CEB combined would account for approximately half of the approvals and jobs created to date. Other parts of the Northside have also enjoyed significant growth as, for example, in East Point where there are currently eight companies which have established at the East Point Industrial Estate under the terms of the enterprise areas scheme. A feature of the development at East Point is the fact that the companies are predominantly international traded service companies involved mainly in the software, dataprocessing and telemarketing sectors.

The total number of potential jobs at the East Point arising from these companies is 1,979. In addition to the above companies, further applications are expected which could lead to the present total of jobs being significantly increased in the near future. Four local employment services, of the fourteen countrywide, are currently operating in the North Dublin area and of the four additional LESs announced on 12 February last, one has been assigned to North Dublin. The service is geared to providing an intensive guidance and placement service for the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups.

The priority for the industrial agencies under my remit for 1997 is to work with local and corporate management of both indigenous and overseas industries to achieve continuous growth.