Vol. 572 No. 3
185 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA Ireland supported jobs created in County Kerry in each year from 1997 to 2002 and to date in 2003; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23024/03]
I understand from IDA Ireland, the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions, that there is a diverse range of companies in Kerry representing a number of industry sectors such as international services, engineering, pharmaceuticals and consumer services.
Killarney has been designated as a linked hub with Tralee under the Government's national spatial strategy and IDA Ireland's strategy for Kerry is to achieve developments in the international services, software and e-business sectors, focusing on Tralee and Killarney.
The following table provides details of IDA Ireland supported employment, including new jobs created, in Kerry for each of the years 1997 to 2002. Employment data for 2003 will not be available until the end of this year.
|
Kerry Employment Data |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
No. of Companies |
23 |
24 |
25 |
23 |
23 |
|
Permanent Employment |
1,859 |
1,936 |
2,196 |
2,646 |
2,961 |
|
New Jobs (Permanent and Full time) |
160 |
177 |
346 |
543 |
374 |
|
Other Jobs |
156 |
376 |
479 |
397 |
324 |
|
(Part time,Temporary, Shortterm contract) |
186 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will visit south Kerry to meet industry and trade union representatives to discuss the unemployment situation in the area at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23025/03]
Job creation is a day-to-day operational matter for the industrial development agencies under the aegis of my Department. These agencies are continuing their efforts towards the attraction of inward investment and the development of indigenous industry in the area.
IDA Ireland is actively promoting the south Kerry region to potential investors in manufacturing and international services, through its network of overseas offices and project divisions. Site development works on the IDA Ireland's Business and Technology Park, 4.66 hectares, that is, 12 acres approx. at Tiernaboul, Killarney, County Kerry, has been completed. This work involved significant landscaping and site clearance work, which has resulted in the upgrading of the overall appeal of the location.
In addition, a local group of business people under the BES have completed a new building of 14,716 square feet on a site acquired from IDA Ireland on its Business and Technology Park, Tiernaboul, Killarney. IDA Ireland is actively marketing this facility to potential investors. These investments will put south Kerry in a position to compete more strongly for inward investment in the ICT, software and international services sectors.
Following the recent announcement by Wilson Sports Socks in Cahirciveen to cease its operations, the development agencies, in conjunction with Kerry County Council, South Kerry Development Partnership and other local community representatives in Cahirciveen are working on initiatives to enhance job creation in the area. FÁS has had a number of meetings with the workers being made redundant to offer its full range of services. Kerry County Enterprise Board maintains an office in Cahirciveen and its range of services is available to former Wilson Sports Socks employees and other individuals who wish to commence their own businesses.
