Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 3

Written Answers - Job Creation.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

16 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the ratio between jobs created and jobs lost in the north west region; the continuing efforts on a cross-departmental level being made to promote better road and rail access into the region to assist job creation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11645/01]

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

Data in respect of the enterprise development agencies IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Udarás na Gaeltachta and the county enterprise boards show that, in the period 1996 to 2000, 9,456 full-time and part-time jobs were created in the north-west region comprising counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo. Job losses in agency-supported firms over the same period totalled 8,404 while the latter figure does not include job losses in county enterprise board firms, the extent of such losses is not significant. The downsizing of the Fruit of the Loom operations in County Donegal has had a significant negative impact on the figures for the region in this period.

However, these figures alone do not reveal the full employment picture. The CSO labour force survey and quarterly national household survey shows that total numbers at work in the Border midlands and west – BMW – region increased from 351,000 in April 1997 to 424,000 in November 2000, an increase of more than 20%. During the same period, the unemployment rate in the BMW region fell from 10.5% to 4.8%.

My Department's agencies are now pursuing a more focused regional policy, and it is notable that during 2000 more than 50% of all greenfield jobs secured by IDA Ireland were agreed for the BMW region. Enterprise Ireland has also developed a comprehensive approach to the achievement of balanced regional economic development.

Provision of appropriate infrastructure will be a key factor in the continued development of the enterprise sector. Proper and planned investment can help to minimise regional imbalances and create opportunities for all the regions to share in our continuing economic growth. The Government's commitment to the provision of regional infrastructure is evidenced by the investment programme set out in the national development plan.

In relation to roads, the national development plan provides that, as well as the upgrading of the five major inter-urban routes, significant improvements will be carried out on other major national primary routes, including the routes to the north-west comprising the N2, N3, N4 and N5. The National Roads Authority, in conjunction with the relevant local authorities, is pursuing the detailed programming of this work and will determine appropriate road types based on a roads needs study and on current and projected traffic growth. Preliminary work is also under way on substantial improvements to the N13, N14, N15, N16 which serve the north west.

Regarding mainline rail, the priorities of the NDP are to upgrade the infrastructure, rolling stock and facilities. The main areas of concentration for this investment are the inter-city passenger services including those on the Dublin-Sligo line.

I am informed by the Department of Public Enterprise that the development of cross-Border rail links was discussed at the first meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on transport last December. The council identified a number of opportunities for co-operation, including the further development of cross-Border rail and bus services, and asked that the joint secretariat convene meetings of officials to prepare a detailed work programme for consideration by the Council. I also understand from Iarnród Éireann that Northern Ireland Railways plans to reduce travel times between Derry and Belfast by routing trains onto the Antrim-Bleach Green line, which is a more direct route to Belfast than the current route via Lisburn. When this line is brought into use, the Derry train will terminate at Belfast Central Station thus allowing for direct connections with the enterprise services to Dublin.

These developments should significantly enhance rail travel opportunities between the Donegal-Derry area and Dublin.

Question No. 17 answered with Question No. 8.