Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Written Answers - Job Creation.

Denis Naughten

Question:

156 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of FDI green field jobs created by the IDA in 2000, 2001 and 2002; the number of jobs created in the BMW region and the south and east region in each year concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7628/03]

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

Data on job creation by IDA Ireland for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, for both the BMW and south and east regions is as follows:

The number of jobs created in BMW Area:

	2000	2001	2002
No. of Companies	213	210	207
Permanent Employment	29,591	28,263	26,899
Gross Gains (New Jobs)	4,676	2,514	1,607
Job Losses	2,501	3,842	2,971
Net Change in Employment	2,175	1,328	1,364

The number of jobs created in the South and East Area:

	2000	2001	2002
No. of Companies	1,049	948	891
Permanent Employment	111,148	107,862	106,185
Gross Gains (New Jobs)	18,125	10,712	10,106
Job Losses	5,583	13,998	11,783
Net Change in Employment	12,542	3,286	1,677

Total number of jobs created by IDA Ireland:

	2000	2001	2002
No. of Companies	1,262	1,158	1,098
Permanent Employment	140,739	136,125	133,084
Gross Gains (New Jobs)	22,801	13,226	11,713
Job Losses	8,084	17,840	14,754
Net Change in Employment	14,717	4,614	3,041

The data outlined is taken from the Forfás annual employment survey and figures for 2002 are provisional.

IDA Ireland advises me that it has made substantial progress with regard to the proportion of new green field jobs locating in the Objective One region. While the data for 2001 and 2002 shows the impact of the economic slowdown in both regions, the IDA has assured me that it is fully committed to achieving a target of 50% of all new green field jobs in the BMW region over the period 2000-2006, in line with the Government's regional policy objectives as set out in the national development plan. It advises that it is currently working towards achieving this target by 2003, which is an ambitious target, heavily dependent on short to medium term developments in the world economy which influence overall international flows of mobile investment.

In this regard, substantial progress has been achieved to date. In 1999, prior to the start of the current NDP, about 25% of all new green field jobs were locating in the Objective One region. Data on the percentage of new green field jobs created by the IDA in the 2000 to 2002 period, in respect of both the BMW and the south and east region is detailed as follows.

Percentage of New Greenfield jobs created by the IDA:

	2000%	2001%	2002%
BMW Region	45	43	44
South and East Region	55	57	56