Written Answers. - Job Creation.
Brendan Smith
Question:
104
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.
[30512/03]
Brendan Smith
Question:
106
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 the country in view of the need to create additional job opportunities in County Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[30514/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 106 together.
IDA Ireland has recently invested €1 million in Cavan town in upgrading its business park and Cavan County Council has incurred significant expenditure in bringing services to the site which has planning permission for a major electronics facility. IDA Ireland has also received planning permission for two 25,000 sq. ft. advanced technology units; construction of the first of these buildings will commence after an alternative project has been secured for the former Teradyne plant. These developments should enhance Cavan's attractiveness for new inward investment.
In December 2002 Abbott Laboratories, announced an investment of €88 million to expand its nutritional manufacturing plant at Cootehill. This project, supported by Enterprise Ireland, is expected to create 100 new jobs over the next three years. In 2003, Enterprise Ireland has approved funding of about €0.7 million to nine companies in the county, including £0.46 million for research and development. The agency's strategy is to further develop the building and construction materials sector in County Cavan, and it is working with a number of companies to achieve this.
Enterprise Ireland also works with local communities in developing the business infrastructure in the county through its community enterprise programme. The agency has approved funding for community enterprise centres in Cavan town, Kingscourt, Balieboro, Cootehill, and Killeshandra.
On the micro-enterprise level, Cavan County Enterprise Board is actively involved in the promotion of enterprise throughout the county. From 1 January 2000 to November 2003, 91 projects, with potential to create 227 full-time and 39 part-time jobs, were approved for financial support.
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 and Fermanagh region.
