The issue of job creation, and the decision to provide funding for a project, are day-to-day operational issues for the enterprise development agencies of my Department and are functions in which I have no direct role. The relevant agencies that fall under the aegis of my Department are Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and Louth County Enterprise Board, all of which are committed to encouraging the establishment of industry in the regions, in particular, the Border, midlands and west, BMW, region of which Louth is a part. The funding paid to companies in any one year cannot be directly related to the number of new jobs in that year. Funding is generally paid to companies on a staged basis when agreed targets have been met. As such, payments made in any given year can include an element related to jobs created in a previous year.
Enterprise Ireland is the agency responsible for indigenous industry. The Forfás employment survey indicates that a total of 1,911 jobs have been created between 1998 and 2002 in County Louth in Enterprise Ireland client companies. The agency paid out over €8.5 million to client companies in County Louth in the same period. Details in tabular format are appended below at (i). The Forfás employment survey indicates that a total of 1,860 new jobs were created in Louth in the five-year period 1998 to 2002 in client companies of IDA Ireland, the agency responsible for attracting new foreign direct investment, while funding of almost €26.5 million was provided to client companies in the same period. Details follow below at (ii).
On a micro level, in the past five years Louth County Enterprise Board has invested over €2 million in projects throughout the county and 623 new jobs were created in the period. Details follow at (iii).