State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through the industrial development agencies. While I may give general policy directives to the agencies I am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.
I have been assured by the agencies under the remit of my Department that they are actively endeavouring to attract new investment, to encourage the start-up of new businesses, to grow existing businesses and to develop the labour market in County Kildare.
IDA Ireland is promoting County Kildare as part of an integrated East Region with access to a population base of 1.5 million people. In recent years Kildare has attracted some world class manufacturing companies such as Intel, Wyeth Medica, Braun Oral B and Hewlett Packard. At present, there are 24 IDA supported companies in Kildare employing approximately 10,310 people.
The success of our economy over the last decade means that Ireland is now less competitive for lower end manufacturing type activities, with low cost destinations such as China and Central Europe much more attractive to investors engaged in these type of activities. To address this market shift IDA is refocusing to higher value type activities in areas such as International Services, Software, Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals and, in 2005, IFS (a financial services company) established a facility in the Millennium Park, Naas.
To support this strategy IDA Ireland is working closely with educational institutions in the County and is also working with FAS to provide guidance in developing the skill sets needed by those already in the workforce who are interested in upskilling.
Enterprise Ireland has a wide range of supports for start up companies. The Agency is actively involved in assisting Kildare-based client companies to grow and develop their businesses. Since 2004 Enterprise Ireland has approved over €7.8m in supports for client companies in Kildare and made payments exceeding €4m to help them grow their sales and exports and improve innovation and new product development. In 2006, there was a slight increase (168) in the numbers employed in Enterprise Ireland supported companies, with 167 companies now employing 5,430 people in the County. Employment growth in Kildare compares favourably with the national average.
In addition, Enterprise Ireland has supported the development of Community Enterprise Centres in County Kildare at Allenwood, Clane and Athy. Funding of over €698,000 has been approved for these Centres, which are significantly contributing to job creation. In order to ensure that NUI Maynooth continues to develop strong links with industry in the region, the Agency has, since 2004, approved funding to the College of over €2m to support innovation partnerships with industry.
I am satisfied that the efforts of the agencies, together with the roll out of the National Development Plan will continue to bear fruit for the people of County Kildare.