Vol. 537 No. 2
114 Mr. Killeen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans she has to encourage investment to replace jobs lost in Ennis and Shannon due to factory closures and downsizing; if she will arrange to have FÁS assessments and training opportunities offered to the former employees; if she will ensure that their progress towards re-employment is monitored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16025/01]
The provision of jobs in any area is a day to day matter for the industrial development agencies, and not one for which I as Minister would have a direct function.
Unfortunately, the Shannon and Ennis areas have recently experienced closures or downsizing of companies. However, both IDA Ireland and Shannon Development, the industrial development agencies under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for the promotion of these areas for overseas and indigenous industry, respectively, are actively engaged in attracting new industry to Shannon and Ennis. Both agencies also work with existing companies in an effort to develop and encourage expansion of their businesses.
Shannon Development has established the "Industry Ennis" initiative, a dynamic partnership involving Shannon Development, Eircom Ennis Information Age Town, IDA, Clare County Council, Ennis UDC, Ennis Chamber of Commerce, Clare Chamber of Industry, Clare Enterprise Board, FÁS and the local business community.
The partnership is committed to providing world class conditions for the digital economy to flourish in Ennis and includes a marketing campaign designed to create opportunities for hi-tech investment and jobs. The ‘Industry Ennis' initiative has generated considerable interest and the partnership is in discussion with a number of both indigenous and foreign owned potential projects.
In addition, Shannon Development has recently acquired the campus of Our Lady's Hospital, comprising 70 acres of land. The company will retain 30 acres for the development of a state of the art technology park. The park will comprise 750,000 sq.ft. of quality office type accommodation with the potential to employ 3,500 people. It is expected that the information age park will be developed over a ten year period, with the first buildings coming on stream in 2002. IDA Ireland will market the park to foreign companies considering Ireland as a location in which to invest.
Shannon Development also has overall responsibility for the development of indigenous and overseas industry at the Shannon Free Zone. As of December 2000, there were 133 companies on Shannon Free Zone employing 8,058 people in a wide and diversified base of industry. Shannon Development continues to work with existing companies to help them grow and diversify and with new overseas clients with a view to their establishing on Shannon Free Zone.
IDA-supported companies in Clare currently employ over 1,140 people. Eight of these companies are based in Ennis and employ more than 770 people. IDA also continues to promote Ennis and its information town status through its network of overseas offices.
