Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 1

Written Answers. - Job Creation.

Denis Naughten

Question:

104 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA supported jobs created and lost in County Roscommon since 1997; the figures for 1996 and 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30552/03]

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

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to the state and its regions. The following table provides details of the jobs created and jobs lost in IDA supported companies in County Roscommon for each of the years between 1996 and 2002, inclusive. These data are taken from the Forfás annual employment survey. Figures for 2003 are not yet available.

Employment Data	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
No. of Companies	9	9	9	9	9	9	9
Permanent Employment	864	924	970	974	1,026	1,009	984
Gross Gains (New Jobs)	213	84	70	45	56	9	117
Job Losses	2	24	24	41	4	26	142
Net Change in Employment	211	60	46	4	52	17	25
Other Jobs*	100	23	22	21	25	21	8

*Other jobs include part-time, temporary, short-term contract employees.

Over the past five years the overall challenges for IDA supported companies have been difficult. Much of the midlands and BMW region is in a period of transition from dependence on the more cost-competitive sectors into the higher value-added activities. Part of this transition has involved job reductions and losses in long established employers in the area and this reinforces the importance and urgency of attracting in the more modern industrial and higher value-added activities.

The IDA's overall strategic response to this new competitive circumstance has been towards a broader vision of what constitutes FDI, with a much greater focus on job quality, higher value-added activities and making Ireland a centre for innovation and the strategic management of value chains rather than just a manufacturing or basic service location.

The announcement by Harmac Medical Products in February this year that it is expanding and will be creating an additional 150 jobs at its facility in Castlerea is good news for Roscommon. It is an indication of the commitment of the company to the county and provides a welcome boost to job opportunities in the area.

In an effort to further enhance the attractiveness of the area to investors, IDA has expanded its land banks in Roscommon town. In addition, the agency has appointed consultants to design and masterplan a 20-acre business park for the town. Phase 1 planning permission was recently lodged with Roscommon County Council, which provides for site infrastructural works, including roads, services, signage, planting and landscaping and general site works.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development, will bear fruit in terms of attracting additional sustainable investment and jobs for the people of Roscommon.

Denis Naughten

Question:

105 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Enterprise Ireland supported jobs created and lost in County Roscommon since 1997; the figures for 1996 and 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30553/03]

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

The creation of jobs in Enterprise Ireland supported companies is a matter for the agency itself and the companies concerned, and not one in which I have a direct role.

The total number of jobs created in Enterprise Ireland supported companies from 1998 to 2002 is 981, and the total number of jobs lost is 717. This gives a net gain of 264 in jobs created from 1998 to 2002. For each of these years there was a net gain, with the exception of 2000 when there was a net loss of 116 jobs. The figures for 1996 and 1997, respectively, are 142 and 97 jobs gained and 83 and 108 jobs lost, giving a net gain of 59 jobs in 1996 and a net loss of 11 jobs in 1997.

Enterprise Ireland continues to work with its client companies in order to assist them to become more competitive in the drive to increase export sales, resulting in improved job creation. In 2002, Enterprise Ireland approved more than €1.5 million for projects in client companies and more than €270,000 so far this year. This financial support will enable them to fund their plans for innovation and new product development.

Denis Naughten

Question:

106 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of people employed in County Roscommon in each of the past seven years; the action she is taking to attract FDI to County Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30554/03]

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

Between 1996 and 2002, permanent employment in companies assisted by Enterprise Ireland and IDA in County Roscommon rose steadily from 2,701 to 3,086. In addition, Roscommon County Enterprise Board has assisted in the creation of 390 net new jobs since 1996. Figures for 2003 will not be available until early in 2004 as they are collated on an annual basis. Yearly figures are set out in the following tables.

Recent announcements which show that the IDA engagement in Roscommon is having positive results include the announcement by Harmac Medical Products in February this year that it is expanding and will be creating an additional 150 jobs at its facility in Castlerea and the announcement by Mapics Europe Ltd. that it is setting up its European software development centre in Monksland, Athlone, creating 55 jobs.

Other IDA initiatives during 2003 in County Roscommon include: expansion of IDA land banks in Roscommon town; appointment of consultants to ascertain infrastructural needs and masterplan the 20-acre business park; and phase 1 planning permission lodged with Roscommon County Council in early December 2003, which includes provision of site infrastructural works, that is, roads, services, signage, planting and landscaping and general site works.

County Roscommon will also benefit from a decision by Abbott Laboratories to locate its €70 million investment in the BMW region. The construction phase of this project is already under way. Roscommon's proximity to Athlone, with its national spatial strategy gateway status and proposed east/west motorway, coupled with the IDA's new investment in Roscommon town, will significantly enhance the employment prospects for the area.

Permanent agency-assisted jobs, County Roscommon:

1996 to 2002*

1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
2,701	2,750	2,976	3,059	3,000	3,058	3,086

*Figures extracted from Forfás business information system, reflecting full-time, permanent jobs supported by Enterprise Ireland and IDA.

Jobs supported by Roscommon County Enterprise Board from 1996 to 2002

Year	Total jobs created
1996	72
1997	70
1998	75
1999	76
2000	31
2001	33
2002	33