Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 5

Written Answers. - Job Creation.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

33 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the fact that no progress is being made in Cavan and Monaghan with a view to getting hi-tech employment in order that young graduates can live and work in their own area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2949/00]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

The attraction of industry to particular counties is a day to day matter for the industrial development agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, and not one in which I have a direct function.

The Government is committed to ensuring the most equitable distribution of job opportunities. The development agencies are now strongly focused on achieving this aim and resources are being deployed to reflect this new focus. In this regard, the Border region, including the Cavan and Monaghan areas, is a particular priority location for promotional purposes by the agencies.

The agencies' focus on regionalisation ensures that an attractive financial package will be made available to any appropriate project which may choose to locate or expand in the area.

IDA Ireland as part of its new focus on the regions is seeking to deliver over 50% of all newly approved greenfield jobs to the objective one region, which includes Cavan and Monaghan. This compares with c.25% of projects which were being brought to this region in the past.

As a direct result of this increased marketing focus, there is a strong flow of potential clients visiting the advance factory available in Cavan. IDA Ireland's objective is to secure a client for this facility at the earliest possible stage. Planning permission is also being sought for the construction of an advance factory in Monaghan and, pending satisfactory approval, negotiations will commence with developers in the near future. The availability of such facilities is essential to the attraction of industry to the area.

The IDA Ireland strategy includes the establishment of its new Border headquarters in Cavan town where the agency's area director is based, together with newly appointed staff for this office. Internally, IDA Ireland has been restructured to support this strategy. Staff resources in the agency's offices for the border region have been increased by one third, giving greater focus on the entire area.

However, it is not merely a question of jobs dispersal as IDA Ireland is seeking to bring a better mix of industry sectors and higher value industries to locations around the country, in particular, to locations that have not seen the emergence of the more modern industries. The agency's new strategy also addresses the need to increase the value and sustainability of overseas companies already established or about to establish in Ireland.

Enterprise Ireland is also committed to assisting industrial development in the region. In addition to working with its core client base, the agency, because of its involvement in all aspects of business development – finance, technology, human resources, etc. – works closely with all development organisations in the region as well as the third level educational institutions, local development bodies and other industry to pro actively facilitate an integrated approach to development in the region.

The national development plan, recently announced, will also help to underpin IDA Ireland's regional strategy since it will provide the infrastructure necessary for the attraction of overseas investment currently lacking outside the major urban areas. The plan envisages spending a higher amount per head of population in the largely rural Border, midland and west regions.

I am confident that the co-ordinated efforts being made by the development agencies will advance the further economic developments of the area.