Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 5

Written Answers. - State Agencies.

John Perry

Question:

139 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her proposals for reorganisation within the IDA to ensure the regional development agenda is brought to the core of the organisation and becomes the main focus of its activity. [23295/01]

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

In response to a changing dynamic in the Irish economy, IDA Ireland has recently decided to implement a new strategy for the agency going forward until 2010. This new strategy has a three pronged approach to continue to attract quality foreign direct investment from existing and new companies with a focus on developing clusters of world class industries and moving from cost based to knowledge based investments; the establishment of regional economic centres at key locations which have not seen the full benefit of growth in recent years, while maintaining the target of doubling the number of jobs from greenfield projects in the Objective One regions; and a greater focus by the agency on the areas of education, skills and research to ensure key future competitive advantage.

Against this background, IDA Ireland will continue its efforts for the delivery of new, higher value and replacement jobs. The agency is already working with existing companies to assist them in upgrading their activities. The agency will also be looking at niches where there is potential for Ireland to become the number one player and shifting the focus from an individual project focus to a cluster dynamic.

Recently, the IDA announced that additional posts would be transferred to Athlone, which will comprise staff from regions, property, and healthcare divisions bringing the staff compliment up to 30. In addition, posts are being transferred to Sligo comprising staff from international services and consumer products divisions bringing the staff compliment up to 15. The purpose of these moves is to drive growth from within the regions, and to develop these centres as magnets for growth for these regions.

Other initiatives include putting a greater focus on marketing of the regions for specific sectors and improvement of marketing material for the regions.

Also, in an effort to achieve a better regional distribution of jobs, the IDA has acquired a number of additional sites and upgraded many of its sites to business park standard. Furthermore, it has arranged, in partnership with private developers, to provide advance factories and advance offices in a number of key locations.