Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
201 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs lost in Westmeath in 2003; and if she will compare this to the number of IDA-aided jobs established in the area during the same period. [11872/04]
View answerSupport for job creation in the county is a day-to-day operational matter for the industrial development agencies IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the county enterprise board. The agencies are actively promoting County Westmeath for new investment and jobs on an ongoing basis, with IDA actively marketing the county as a location for foreign direct investment through its network of overseas offices and EI and the county enterprise board concentrating on the development of indigenous industries.
In 2003, overall full-time employment in companies supported by the development agencies was 297,549 of which 128,993 were employed by IDA Ireland supported companies. A total of 22,769 new jobs were created in agency-supported companies during 2003. Of these 9,182 were in IDA supported companies. However, a total of 30,000 full-time jobs were lost nationally in companies handled by the development agencies, in the same period of which 12,193 were in IDA supported companies.
County data for 2003 will not be available until June 2004. However, the 2002 results for County Westmeath were as follows:
|
All Agencies |
IDA Ireland |
|
|
No. of Companies |
129 |
19 |
|
Permanent Employment |
5,122 |
2,776 |
|
Gross Gains (New Jobs) |
585 |
157 |
|
Job Losses |
-391 |
-178 |
|
Net Change in Employment |
194 |
-21 |
I have arranged that IDA Ireland will forward the relevant county data for 2003 to the Deputy when it becomes available.
