Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
205 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress by IDA and Enterprise Ireland in attracting jobs to County Louth and in particular to the towns of Drogheda, Dundalk and Ardee. [22146/04]
View answerThe issue of job creation is a day-to-day operational matter for Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland and not one in which I have a direct role.
IDA Ireland is actively marketing County Louth as a potential location for new foreign direct investment, FDI, with the local area IDA Ireland office working in close co-operation with existing clients and the agency's network of overseas offices in order to secure new investment and additional jobs for the towns of Drogheda, Dundalk and Ardee. Ultimately decisions regarding where to locate a project are taken by the overseas investors.
At present there are 19 IDA Ireland assisted companies in County Louth, employing approximately 2,339 people; 11 of these companies are located in Dundalk, seven in Drogheda and one in Ardee. Recent developments include ABB in Dundalk, which has provided 40 additional jobs in its manufacturing operation during 2003 and is now embarking on a major expansion of its research and development and marketing functions which will see the creation of a further 115 jobs, mainly for graduates, and Finmatica Trademark Limited which has begun the process of locating in a 3,000 sq. ft. section of the Science Services Centre in Finnabair Business Park in Dundalk, with projected employment of 60 within three years.
In an effort to further enhance the attractiveness of the county to overseas investors, IDA has recently developed a new 63-acre flagship business and technology park in Drogheda. Planning permission has also been obtained to upgrade the Finnabair Business Park in Dundalk to flagship park standard, and 35 acres are available for development there. In addition, IDA is actively promoting its strategic site at Mullagharlin, Dundalk.
Enterprise Ireland works with companies in its portfolio in County Louth to assist them grow their sales and exports and improve innovation in order that they can compete on world markets. The agency is encouraging companies to adopt new technologies to add value to their products and services. To this end Enterprise Ireland has approved financial support of over €5.2 million to companies in County Louth since the beginning of 2002. This support enables companies to fund their plans for innovation and new product development.
In addition, Enterprise Ireland supports the Dundalk Institute of Technology, DIT, to foster links with industry thereby encouraging industry to increase its use of technology. Under the Enterprise Ireland innovation partnership and research funding programme, Enterprise Ireland has, since 2003, approved over €470,000 in funding to the DIT for research projects with industry.
Enterprise Ireland has supported the development of a business incubation space at DIT. In May 2004 the agency approved a further €0.414 million of capital support for the development of phase 4 of the regional development centre at the college. This is in addition to capital support of €1.97 million and €76,000 towards the cost of a centre manager which was approved in February 2002.
As part of the community enterprise centre programme which encourages local enterprise, Enterprise Ireland has provided funding for enterprise centres in both Drogheda and Ardee. It is expected that the first four units of the Drogheda enterprise centre will be completed in November 2004, and completion of the Ardee enterprise centre is expected in January 2005.
I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, will continue to bear fruit in terms of delivering the maximum possible level of additional jobs for County Louth, including the towns of Dundalk, Drogheda and Ardee.
