Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 5

Written Answers. - Job Creation.

John Deasy

Question:

77 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will take action to support manufacturing employment in the south-east region in view of recent closures in Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29945/03]

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

Regional development is a significant focus of Government policy and its importance has been confirmed in the national development plan and the national spatial strategy, NSS. The latter strategy addresses the ongoing concentration of population and economic activity along the eastern seaboard, especially in the greater Dublin area, with a view to achieving balanced regional development throughout the country.

The objective of the State development agencies has been to encourage the design of a strategy that will enable as many areas as possible to share in balanced regional development. The State development agencies will work to ensure that key centres under the NSS play a critical role in the promotion of balanced regional development. However, the effectiveness of their strategies will be strongly influenced by a supportive business environment in the regions. Ireland competes with many other countries for new projects and the relative attractiveness of regional locations in Ireland to another is often the deciding factor on location.

The south-east region has been successful in attracting a number of modern industries such as Genzyme in Waterford, Alza/Johnson & Johnson in Cashel, PFPC in Wexford and Deutsche Bank in Kilkenny. In addition to these new substantial investments, there have been a number of notable expansions in the region from companies such as Guidant, Clonmel, AOL and Sunlife, Waterford, and Lake Region, New Ross.

Within the region, some areas such as Wexford have not fared as well as others in enterprise development. To help redress the jobs situation in Wexford, Enterprise Ireland and Wexford County Enterprise Board have provided significant funding for an extension to the community enterprise centre at the Kerlogue Industrial Estate, Wexford. The IDA is also developing a 70 acre business and technology park in Carlow. The main focus in south Tipperary is Tipperary town and the upgrading of its business park.

I am satisfied that the combined efforts of the State development agencies and the ongoing commitment of the Government to regional development, including the recently announced decentralisation programme, should facilitate the economic development of the south-east region.