Ivor Callely
Question:227 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on the need to promote jobs in the Dublin region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6619/97]
Written Answers. - Job Creation.
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.
Job creation performance by Forbairt companies has also been exceptional, resulting in a 1996 cumulative net gain in job numbers in IDA Ireland and Forbairt assisted companies in the Dublin region of 5,841.
Furthermore, CEB's in the Dublin region have since their establishment approved almost 700 projects which have resulted in the creation of over 1,000 full time jobs. Overall, the Labour Force Survey shows that in the year to April 1996, employment in Dublin grew by a record 26,200 or 7 per cent on the previous year. I am confident that Dublin will continue this strong performance in 1997 and beyond.
Notwithstanding these successes, there is a need to continue impacting on high unemployment and its concentration in certain parts of Dublin. A recent announcement that the Local Employment Service will be established in four additional locations, with three of them in Dublin-Clondalkin, Blanchardstown and Ballyfermot, reflect my determination to tackle this problem.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:228 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number of jobs created and lost in County Donegal from January 1996 to date; the net job gain for the period; the areas in which job creation was achieved; the agencies involved in the successful ventures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6749/97]
The following tables show job gains, job losses and net change for IDA and Forbairt companies in County Donegal. The figures are taken from the Forfás employment survey. This is carried out in October each year so statistics for 1997 are unavailable.
1996
|
Gains |
Losses |
Net Change |
|
|
Forbairt |
273 |
–312 |
–39 |
|
IDA |
129 |
–427 |
–298 |
The County Enterprise Board created 67 full time and 23 part-time jobs in Donegal in 1996. Job loss figures are not available. Notwithstanding these disappointing results, there were a number of positive developments in Donegal during 1996 as follows:
IDA Ireland appointed a development manager to work with a select number of companies in the North West/Donegal region with a view to expanding their existing operations;
On the greenfield investment side, IDA Ireland continues to market Donegal to overseas companies, with a number of small vacant buildings and industrial sites in various locations including Buncrana, Carndonagh, Moville, Ballyshannon and Letterkenny being promoted for overseas investment;
In 1996, IDA agreed with Donegal County Council to develop a Business Park in Letterkenny. Work on this initiative has been ongoing and a full planning application will shortly be submitted to the council. As soon as planning permission and services have been put in place, work will commence on the park which will include the construction of a 25,000 sq. ft. advance building. This will enhance the area's attractiveness to potential investors and will assist IDA in marketing the area to potential overseas clients.
The recently announced greater focus by IDA on smaller regional centres should help to ensure that these developments in Donegal are exploited to the maximum.