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Job Creation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006

Tuesday, 4 July 2006

Questions (394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399)

Damien English

Question:

407 Mr. English asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made by his Department for a replacement company to take over the NEC factory plant in Ballivor, County Meath; the efforts which have been made to date to aid staff in finding replacement employment opportunities within County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26346/06]

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Written answers

Finding alternative employment for the workers in question is a priority for the Industrial Development agencies. To date, FÁS has briefed all employees on the range of services available to them and has been heavily involved in supporting both the company and its employees. Registration and guidance interviews on a one-to-one basis have been completed with 312 employees and training plans have been developed to meet the needs of the staff concerned. Last week, FÁS supported the company in organising a Jobs Fair on site and approximately 28 companies and recruitment agencies were present at this event.

In March, Meath County Council hosted an Investment Showcase at the International Financial Services Centre in Dublin to promote County Meath as an attractive business location. The theme of the event was ‘Meath — A Better Business Direction'. In this context, the marketing of the Ballivor factory as a location for new industry was high on the agenda. Indeed, the Financial Controller of the company spoke at the event about the highly trained and enthusiastic workforce in Ballivor and how they would be a huge asset to potential employers taking over the factory.

Furthermore, Enterprise Ireland is participating at meetings with the company outlining the various types of assistance that are available. The next meeting is scheduled for 14 July. In conjunction with the Meath County Enterprise Board, Enterprise Ireland will also be participating in a series of workshops scheduled to begin this month on Ideas Generation and Start Your Own Business.

Both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland will continue their marketing efforts for County Meath, in partnership with the County Council and other local interests in order to increase the flow of potential investors for the County and to convert any suitable investment projects into job opportunities particularly for Ballivor and the surrounding area where possible.

Damien English

Question:

408 Mr. English asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs his Department or State Bodies under his control have created in Clonmellon, County Westmeath for each of the years 2002 to 30 June 2006. [26347/06]

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Damien English

Question:

409 Mr. English asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs his Department or State Bodies under his control have created in Delvin, County Westmeath for each of the years 2002 to 30 June 2006. [26348/06]

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Damien English

Question:

410 Mr. English asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs his Department or State Bodies under his control have created in Castlepollard, County Westmeath for each of the years 2002 to 30 June 2006. [26349/06]

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I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 to 410, inclusive, together.

Figures relating to 2006 are not yet available for employment generated in companies assisted by the enterprise development agencies. Data on employment in agency-assisted firms is recorded at county level, so it is not possible to give figures relating to such employment in relation to areas within Co. Westmeath. The following tabular statement gives jobs generated in such companies from 2002 to 2005 in County Westmeath.

Jobs created in agency-assisted companies in County Westmeath 2002-2005

2002

2003

2004

2005

Jobs created

585

365

544

424

Paul Kehoe

Question:

411 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the IDA Business Park in Carlow is lying idle; if site visits have recently taken place to same; the details for same; if he will list all the jobs announcements made by him in the last twelve months. [26391/06]

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IDA Ireland is an autonomous statutory agency set up under the Industrial Development Acts 1986-2003. The Agency operates in accordance with the provisions of the Acts and under the aegis of my Department.

IDA Ireland has invested almost €11.5 million to date in developing the Carlow Business and Technology Park on the Dublin Road. Following receipt of planning permission, development of a 17,000 sq. ft. Advance Office Building with one hundred per cent expansion capability was only completed in November 2005. I understand from the Agency that, since the beginning of 2005, there have been a total of nine site visits to the Carlow Business and Technology Park and negotiations are ongoing between IDA Ireland and a number of the companies who have visited the site. Meanwhile the Agency assures me that it continues to market the building and park through its network of overseas offices.

In the period from 1 June 2005 to 30 June 2005, I have made 29 announcements relating to the proposed creation of 5,373 new jobs in IDA Ireland supported companies. The following tabular statement sets out the names of the companies involved, details of the activity engaged in, the location, and the number of new jobs announced. In this connection, I should add that many IDA supported projects proceed without any formal announcement.

Details of Job Announcements made by Minister Martin in period 1 June 2005-30 June 2006

Company

Location

Details of Activity engaged in

Number of jobs

Qlogic Corporation

Dublin

Storage Area Network Infrastructure Component Providers

100

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

Dublin & Galway

Biopharmaceutical Research

32

Citigroup

Dublin

Financial Services

8

Genzyme Corporation

Waterford

Pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical Research & Development

12

BISYS Hedge Fund Services

Waterford

Financial Services

250

Axa Assistance SA

Athlone, County Westmeath

Assistance service centre

300

Zeus Industrial Products

Letterkenny, County Donegal

Produce and distribute medical tubing products

150

International Fund Services (IFS)

Drogheda, Co Louth

Funds accounting and administration

230

Palm

Dublin

Mobile computing & provider of smartphones

35

Parsons

Cork

Engineering

80

Alps Electric Co. Ltd

Cork

Manufacture electric components

140

Google

Dublin

Internet Search Company

600

Vmware

Cork

Virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems, technical support centre EMEA

78

USCI (Universal Sciences Catheter and Instruments) Japan Ltd

Ballinasloe, County Galway

Manufacture & Distribute interventional vascular products

125

Amgen

Cork

Biotechnology

1,100

Citco

Cork

Hedgefund Administration

250

Vodafone

Dublin

Mobile phone operator

25

Vesta Corporation

Dublin

Virtual commerce solutions

350

Sage Group Plc

Dublin

Accounting and business management software solutions

40

Amazon.com

Cork

Online Retailer

450

Hewlett-Packard Financial Services

County Kildare

Financial Services

110

Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)

Athlone, County Westmeath

Research Institute

50

Vistakon

Limerick

Contact Lenses Manufacture

124

Abbott

Donegal

Healthcare manufacture

155

Pillar Data Systems Inc

Drogheda, Co Louth

Design & Build Computer Data Storage

200

Becton Dickinson

Drogheda, County Louth

Medical technology

125

SanDisk

Swords, County Dublin

Flash Data Storage

38

Netgear

UCC Cork

provider of technologically advanced branded networking products

100

Trend Micro

Cork

Anti-Virus Software & Content Security Software & Services

116

Seymour Crawford

Question:

412 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has had recent meetings with his opposite number in Northern Ireland regarding the promotion of the six counties along the border as a special region in need of outside investment; if there is any special effort being made in the US or elsewhere to encourage such investment in the region so that graduates might have a better chance of suitable employment in their home area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26392/06]

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On 1 June, I met with the Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment, Ms Maria Eagle MP to discuss a number of issues concerning North/South economic co-operation. We reviewed progress on the comprehensive study that is currently underway to identify opportunities for further practical North/South co-operation on the development of a more competitive and prosperous all-island economy. The outcomes of this study, due later this year, should also benefit the counties along the border.

Minister Eagle and I also discussed the development of the North-West of the island which is another priority of North/South co-operation. The North-West of the island faces particular challenges which can only be overcome by a concerted effort by both Governments. I am pleased to say there is now a common approach, the North-West Gateway Initiative, which has been endorsed by the British-Irish InterGovernmental Conference to increase co-operation to address the development of the North-West. This initiative will encompass an examination of the potential for joint investment in key infrastructure projects; joint analysis and actions by agencies in areas such as trade and investment promotion, tourism, skills and training.

I am pleased that we have been able to make progress on these areas of North/South co-operation and I look forward to the positive benefits which should accrue to the all-island economy and economic development along the border counties.

In addition IDA Ireland (IDA) and Invest Northern Ireland (INI) continue to identify and pursue collaborative cross-border initiatives. The Boards of both agencies hold an annual joint Board meeting to update each other on issues such as strategy, opportunities for collaboration, EU affairs and other topics of mutual interest.

IDA and INI are actively pursuing the development of a Virtual Cross-Border Technology Park (VCBTP) in the North-West, centred on Derry and Letterkenny, using funding from the EU Interreg III Programme. One key aspect of the initiative is that high specification telecommunications will be offered to overcome the disadvantages of physical remoteness, which businesses and educational/research organisations currently have to deal with. This proposal has now been fully approved by the Interreg Steering Committee following the successful outcome of an economic appraisal. Work is now focused on implementing the proposal, including the tendering process for the telecommunications element of the initiative.

IDA participates in the Armagh-Monaghan Digital Corridor Initiative, which is geared at encouraging enterprises with a requirement for advanced telecoms to locate on both sides of the border where the telecommunications networks of both jurisdictions can be accessed.

IDA closely monitors other issues with a North/South dimension such as energy, transportation, infrastructure development, spatial planning and opportunities for improved collaboration or coordination are highlighted for the appropriate authorities on an on-going basis.

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