I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 326 together.
The following tables set out the number of full time job gains and losses in enterprise agency assisted firms in Co. Louth for each of the years between 2002 and 2007. (Agency data is collected on a county and annual basis and therefore no data is available for 2008). Overall in the period in question 3,216 new full-time jobs were created while job losses amounted to 4,094. While any factory closures and job losses are to be regretted they must be viewed in the context of an historically unprecedented period of job creation of well over half a million since 1997. From 2002 to 2007 the County Enterprise Board has assisted in the creation of over 490 net jobs throughout the county.
Key to the Enterprise Development Agencies' Strategies for the Louth area is to progress the development of a knowledge-based economy, so that the region can compete both nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment and the development of indigenous companies. As part of the process of developing the capabilities of the region, the agencies work very closely with local interests. They also maintain a close relationship with FÁS so that the requirements of industry particularly in the areas of training and up-skilling are being met.
In line with this overall policy and their own North East Regional Strategy, Enterprise Ireland's aim of fostering closer links between local educational institutions and industry, led the agency to provide funding to the Regional Development Centre at the Dundalk Institute of Technology, for Incubation space. In the past it has also developed a programme for entrepreneurs in association with Dundalk IT. Given the geography, cross-border links are an important part of the agency's operations, and along with developing relationships with InterTrade Ireland, EI in association with Invest NI, are currently running a Cross Border Enterprise Incubation Programme which is known as the Transform Programme. This is a programme for new entrepreneurs who wish to research new innovative business ideas.
Competition for foreign direct investment (FDI) is relentless but Ireland continues to punch above its weight when it comes to attracting overseas investment. Indeed, County Louth has the largest concentration of IDA supported companies — 19 in all. IDA Ireland is actively marketing County Louth for new inward investment and, in line with the National Spatial Strategy, the gateway town of Dundalk has been designated a primary development centre. Dundalk is being targeted by the agency for new investment in the Pharma, ICT, Financial Services and Internationally Traded services sectors. I am advised that IDA Ireland owns over 20 hectares of land in the county overall, including Drogheda Business and Technology Park.
The Government is committed to achieving balanced regional development and a key regional objective included in the National Development Plan (NDP), is to support the creation of the necessary conditions, to extend the process of employment and productivity growth in higher value added functions to all regions. Progress has, and will continue to be achieved, by developing our R&D base, investing in critical physical and communications infrastructures and, promoting tertiary education and lifelong learning. Underpinning the vision of establishing Ireland as a key location for leading edge research and development, and one where high quality jobs that are underpinned by knowledge and high skill levels become a reality, the NDP sets out an investment of €8.2 billion in Research, Development and Innovation to 2013.
Permanent Full-time Jobs in Enterprise Agency-assisted firms in Co. Louth
Enterprise Ireland and IDA
|
Job gains
|
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
Total 02-07
|
All Agencies
|
443
|
258
|
615
|
618
|
698
|
584
|
3,216
|
Enterprise Ireland
|
264
|
219
|
514
|
468
|
409
|
394
|
2,268
|
IDA Ireland
|
179
|
39
|
101
|
150
|
289
|
190
|
948
|
Job losses
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
Total 02-07
|
All Agencies
|
-1,175
|
-932
|
-552
|
-339
|
-524
|
-572
|
-4,094
|
Enterprise Ireland
|
-899
|
-522
|
-435
|
-211
|
-237
|
-400
|
-2,704
|
IDA Ireland
|
-276
|
-410
|
-117
|
-128
|
-287
|
-172
|
-1,390
|