Written Answers. - Job Creation.
Enda Kenny
Question:
83
Mr. Kenny
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the initiatives her Department intends to undertake to stimulate job creation in County Donegal; if Enterprise Ireland will give precedence to job creation schemes in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24690/03]
The issue of job creation is a day-to-day operational matter for the enterprise development agencies of my Department and not one in which I have a direct role.
The relevant agencies that fall under the aegis of my Department are Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and Donegal County Enterprise Board, all of which are committed to encouraging the establishment of industry in the regions, in particular, the BMW region of which County Donegal is a part.
IDA Ireland is the agency with responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. Over the past two years, IDA Ireland has radically changed its policy with a commitment to delivering half of all new greenfield jobs into objective one, of which County Donegal is a part, in the coming years. A number of positive initiatives have resulted, the development of which continues in 2003. These include PacifiCare Health Systems Ireland which continues to actively recruit as a result of the expansion announced in May 2001. This development at completion will bring total employment in the company to over 300 people. Ongoing investment at Prumerica Systems Ireland Limited has resulted in a current staffing level of approximately 390 people and the company continues to recruit. The IDA Ireland Business Park in Letterkenny has been completed and plans are well advanced on the provision of a second 25,000 sq ft advance factory, and planning permission has been sought for a third advance facility. In addition, planning permission has been sought for new facilities at Buncrana and Ballyshannon.
Enterprise Ireland is the agency responsible for indigenous industry. The agency facilitates the creation of new jobs by supporting high potential start-up companies, assisting client companies to develop and grow, by working with the third level institutions in industry and third level partnerships and in setting up new campus companies.
Enterprise Ireland's range of supports includes strategy development, production and operations, marketing, human resources development, finance and research and development. Furthermore, Enterprise Ireland has been very active in supporting the development of new enterprise space over the past five years in Letterkenny, Moville, Erne Enterprise, Glenties and Convoy.
Over the past five years Enterprise Ireland has approved €11.6 million in direct support to companies in County Donegal. In addition, a wide range of support and knowledge is provided by specialists in Enterprise Ireland offices in Dublin and through our 32 offices worldwide. This independent support involves a range of services including identifying new opportunities, providing benchmarking services, providing technical "know how" and expertise, providing market and technical information, promoting clients both in Ireland and overseas. Preliminary figures for 2002 indicate that Enterprise Ireland clients in the north-west region, including County Donegal, have export sales growth of in excess of 20%, considerably ahead of the national average of 1%. Overall sales growth showed a similar pattern.
On a micro level in 2002, the Donegal County Enterprise Board approved a total of €719,000 to 27 projects with the potential to create 121 new jobs in the county. There was a net increase of 101 jobs in Donegal County Enterprise Board assisted businesses in 2002. To date in 2003, Donegal County Enterprise Board has approved 17 projects with the potential to create 50 new jobs in the county. The Board will continue to work to support new business and start-ups in particular.
