Written Answers. - Job Creation. – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Thursday, 8 May 2003

Written Answers. - Job Creation.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

53 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number and locations of new jobs created in the north-west by each agency; the number and locations of job losses there in each year from 1996 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12250/03]

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

The issue of job creation is a day-to-day operational issue for the enterprise development agencies of my Department and is one in which I have no direct function. IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, and the county enterprise boards are the agencies under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for industrial development in the north-west region. The information sought by the Deputy is contained in the following tabular statements with the exception of statistics for the county enterprise board, which follow.

From 1996 to date, the total number of jobs created in county enterprise board assisted enterprises for the north-west region were as follows: Donegal, 646; Sligo, 671; and Leitrim, 296. This amounts to a total of 1,613. Figures for job losses in county enterprise board assisted enterprises are not available.

Enterprise Ireland is proactively adopting a structured approach to driving growth in the north-west region through a number of specific measures which help to build the environment or business across the region. The agency is currently in discussion with a number of promoters with a view to establishing new operations in the north-west, and is also seeking out new opportunities such as expansions of east coast companies to the region. IDA Ireland is committed to playing its part in the development of the region by maintaining the maximum number of existing jobs in overseas industry and by attracting new foreign direct investment into the region. Over the past two years, IDA Ireland has radically changed its policy with a commitment to delivering half of all new green-field jobs into the Objective One regions in the coming years. A number of positive initiatives have resulted, including PacifiCare Health Systems Ireland, which at completion will bring total employment in the company to over 300 persons.

The agencies' commitment to regional development is now stronger than ever and with the national spatial strategy in place, the agencies are determined to see the emergence of strong elements of attraction in each region and are working in strong partnership with other organisations at national and local level to influence the delivery of projects to the regions. I am confident that my Department, through its agencies, is working to address the employment needs of the north-west and in promoting the area for suitable investment projects in the future.

Job Gains

1996

	No. of Plants	Permanent Full-time Job Gains
Enterprise Ireland	121	604
Donegal		275
Leitrim		162
Sligo		167
IDA Ireland	17	297
Donegal		129
Leitrim		26
Sligo		142
Údaras na Gaeltachta	80	385
Donegal		385
Total	218	1,286

1997

	No. of Plants	Permanent Full-time Job Gains
Enterprise Ireland	112	666
Donegal		254
Leitrim		289
Sligo		123
IDA Ireland	19	267
Donegal		80
Leitrim		33
Sligo		154
Údaras na Gaeltachta	83	306
Donegal		306
Total	214	1,239

1998

	No. of Plants	Permanent Full-time Job Gains
Enterprise Ireland	116	551
Donegal		366
Leitrim		75
Sligo		110
IDA Ireland	15	312
Donegal		54
Leitrim		17
Sligo		241
Údaras na Gaeltachta	96	512
Donegal		512
Total	227	1,375

1999

	No. of Plants	Permanent Full-time Job Gains
Enterprise Ireland	120	695
Donegal		419
Leitrim		68
Sligo		187
IDA Ireland	19	223
Donegal		67
Leitrim		73
Sligo		83
Údaras na Gaeltachta	86	297
Donegal		297
Total	225	1,215

2000

	No. of Plants	Permanent Full-time Job Gains
Enterprise Ireland	108	527
Donegal		312
Leitrim		1,008
Sligo		107
IDA Ireland	22	497
Donegal		308
Leitrim		4
Sligo		185
Údaras na Gaeltachta	95	255
Donegal		255
Total	225	1,279

2001

	No. of Plants	Permanent Full-time Job Gains
Enterprise Ireland	113	724
Donegal		505
Leitrim		53
Sligo		166
IDA Ireland	20	781
Donegal		353
Leitrim		336
Sligo		92
Údaras na Gaeltachta	85	361

Donegal		361
Total	218	1,866

2002

	No. of Plants	Permanent Full-time Job Gains
Enterprise Ireland	103	553
Donegal		347
Leitrim		76
Sligo		130
IDA Ireland	18	416
Donegal		179
Leitrim		117
Sligo		120
Údaras na Gaeltachta	88	365
Donegal		365
Total	209	1,334

Job Losses