Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
135 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions that are being taken to create employment in Youghal and Cobh, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34052/04]
View answerThe provision of support to companies for the creation of employment is a day-to-day operational matter for the industrial development agencies under my remit, namely, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and the county enterprise boards. I am assured by these agencies that they are actively promoting County Cork, including Youghal and Cobh, for new investment and jobs on an ongoing basis, with Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Board focusing on the development of indigenous industries, and IDA Ireland concentrating on marketing the county as a location for foreign direct investment.
As part of its role in regional development, the Enterprise Ireland regional Cork office works with other regional organisations and third level institutions to improve the business climate at regional level for agency clients. At a county level, just under €28 million has been approved since 2002 for Enterprise Ireland client companies in the city and county of Cork.
In terms of employment creation, Enterprise Ireland activity is focused on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs set up new high potential start-up companies, the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies and in enhancing innovation capability at a national and regional level through support of research in companies and third level institutions.
There are 140 Enterprise Ireland supported companies in the east Cork area, which includes Youghal and Cobh, with a total employment of 3,681. Since 1998 employment in Enterprise Ireland companies in the county has been positive in every year, with the exception of 2001 when there was a net loss of 296 jobs. The Forfás annual employment survey is the indicator used to record jobs gained and lost in Enterprise Ireland and other agencies in any one year. The 2004 survey is being completed and data will be available by the end of January 2005.
The wide range of supports offered by Enterprise Ireland to its client companies to facilitate their growth includes strategy development, production and operations, marketing, human resources development, finance and research and development. Companies also have access to market and technical information via the agency's 32 offices worldwide.
Regarding IDA Ireland, the towns of Cobh and Youghal are marketed by IDA south west region as part of the broader east Cork area. IDA Ireland is promoting east Cork to potential investors on an ongoing basis and every effort is being made to secure further advanced knowledge based industry for the area.
From an inward investment perspective Cobh and Youghal, due to their proximity to the greater Cork area, also benefit from continued development where over the past ten years direct employment in IDA supported companies in Cork city and county has grown from 10,345 in 1993 to 18,162 in 2003. The sectors contributing to this growth are ICT, pharmaceuticals-medical technologies and international services.
This growth is expected to continue into the future with IDA in 2003 announcing 11 new projects for Cork with the potential to create up to 800 new jobs and in 2004. Five new projects, Centocor, Altera, Ecora, AK pharmaceuticals and McAfee, have been announced with a job creation potential in excess of 800 new jobs. In the 2002-04 period more than 50% of all jobs announced in Cork came from companies locating in the broader east Cork area, making this area the primary jobs beneficiary from inward investment in the south west region.
The county enterprise board with responsibility for Youghal and Cork is the South Cork County Enterprise Board, SCCEB, which since its inception has approved a total of €175,734 to ten projects in the Youghal and Cobh region and paid out a total of €169,384 in capital assistance. In the past two years the board has specifically focused on developing training initiatives in the area and is conducting a wide range of training programmes in order to assist participants in the micro-enterprise sector.
SCCEB, in conjunction with the other support agencies, continues to maintain an active presence in the region informing the public of the supports available. The board will continue to work to support new and existing businesses to operate effectively and efficiently to ensure survival and growth.
