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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Job Creation.

Brendan Smith

Question:

273 Mr. B. Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals by the industrial development agencies to attract inward investment or to assist in the creation of jobs throughout County Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20996/03]

The issue of job creation is a day-to-day operational issue for the enterprise development agencies of my Department and not one in which I have a direct function. IDA Ireland is the agency statutorily charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. IDA is actively promoting County Cavan on an ongoing basis through their network of overseas offices as a potential location for overseas investment. Ultimately however it is the investor who decides the location including what locations they want to visit. In an effort to enhance the attraction of County Cavan to overseas investors IDA has recently invested €1 million in upgrading its 16.5 hectare business park in Cavan to flagship standard which has greatly enhanced its attractiveness for new inward investment. The work involved the extension of internal roads, services and extensive landscaping. Planning permission has been received from Cavan County Council for two 2,500 square metre advanced technology units and construction of the first of these buildings will commence after a project has been secured for the former Teradyne premises, which IDA is actively marketing to overseas investors at present.

Despite the global economic downturn, the level of foreign direct investment in Ireland, relative to the size of the economy, remains one of the highest in the world. Ireland today competes with many other countries for new projects and, indeed, the relative attractiveness of one regional location in Ireland to another is often the decider for a company as to where it will locate. The designation of Cavan town as a hub under the Government's national spatial strategy confers on it a strategic position in the overall development plans for Ireland that further enhances the attractiveness of the county as a potential location for overseas investment. Cavan town, along with Dundalk, Monaghan and Drogheda, is one of the four towns of emphasis in the north east region for the IDA and is being strongly marketed for new investment.

In relation to indigenous industry, Enterprise Ireland provides preferential funding for companies, with detailed export plans, which are expanding or establishing a business in the county as part of the BMW region. In 2003 Enterprise Ireland is putting in place a range of new initiatives geared towards clients developing export markets for the first time in market mentors, training workshops, and market visits. Enterprise Ireland has focused on building and construction materials as a targeted sector for County Cavan and is endeavouring to build on the existing cluster of companies in the county. In addition an €88 million investment by Abbott Laboratories, the Chicago based health care company, to expand its nutritional manufacturing plant at Cootehill, County Cavan, was supported by Enterprise Ireland and will lead to the creation of 100 new jobs over the next three years. The latest available figures from Enterprise Ireland show approvals totalling €4,524,914 in funding to client companies in County Cavan in 2002, in addition to €479,987 in 2003 – to 26 September. Total payments amounted to €733,257 in 2002 and €229,749 in 2003 to 26 September 2003.

Under the second call for proposals for the Community Enterprise Scheme 2002, operated by Enterprise Ireland, I have just announced that Bailieboro Community Development Group has been approved €250,000 for the building of a new community enterprise centre. This will add further impetus to job creation in the county. On a micro-enterprise level, Cavan County Enterprise Board is actively involved in the promotion of micro-enterprise and an enterprise culture throughout all areas of County Cavan. From 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2003, Cavan CEB approved €1.608 million for 90 projects with potential to create 227 full-time and 39 part-time jobs. During the same period 889 people participated on management development and other training programmes organised and delivered through the County Enterprise Board. Cavan Innovation and Technology Centre, a joint initiative of Cavan County Enterprise Board and the Cavan County Enterprise Fund, has been developed as part of a cross-border programme to support local, regional and national agencies in stimulating an environment conducive to innovation, entrepreneurship and inward investment in the Cavan-Fermanagh region. Total investment in the centre to-date amounts to €3.2 million.
I am confident that the efforts of the industrial development agencies in partnership with other local organisations as well as the continuing commitment of the Government to regional development will bring positive results to Cavan.
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