Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2013
368. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of grants paid by the Industrial Development Agency to companies (details supplied) in County Laois in each of the past ten years; the number of companies receiving such grants in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4167/13]
View answerI have been informed by IDA Ireland that in the 10 year period 2002 to 2011 a total of €830,072 was paid in grants to 4 client companies in County Laois. Details of the amount of grants paid to each individual company in each of the years in question are set out in the attached tabular statement. As papers supporting grant payments made in 2012 are as yet unaudited, it is not possible to provide details of grant payments made in 2012 at this stage.
County Laois, along with Counties Longford, Offaly, Westmeath and Roscommon, forms part of IDA Ireland’s Midlands Region. The locations of emphasis in the Region are the Gateway Towns of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar. In addition, IDA Ireland actively promotes the County towns of Portlaoise, Longford and Roscommon.
Laois has traditionally been a centre of manufacturing for foreign direct investment (FDI). However, over recent years, it has proved challenging to maintain and attract overseas manufacturing companies into the County as much of this global investment is going to low cost destinations such as Eastern and Central Europe and China. As a result of this locational shift in global manufacturing, Laois has seen a number of closures within the multinational sector. In order to address this decline, and as part of the transition and re-positioning of the County to a more knowledge based economy, IDA Ireland is marketing Portlaoise as a key location for investment in the Globally Traded Services sector. To support this strategy, IDA Ireland is working closely with educational institutions in the Region to develop the skill sets necessary to attract high value added employment to the county.
IDA Ireland has indicated that it has invested in the physical infrastructure required to attract FDI to County Laois. €3.2m has been invested in a quality flagship Business Park in Portlaoise which is now an integral part of the agency’s international marketing programme. The Park has a modern 17,000 sq ft advance office building as well as all the necessary infrastructure, including ducting for broadband, which is being marketed to potential inward investors. I am informed by IDA Ireland that while marketing Laois has proved challenging in the current global market and in common with many other regional locations, recent infrastructural enhancements have significantly strengthened the marketability of Portlaoise Town, which bodes well for securing new FDI investment.
Table showing grant payments to IDA client companies in County Laois in each of the years 2002 to 2011
|
Company Name |
Tretorn Sport Limited |
DIS enbi Seals Ireland Limited |
Aubren Limited |
Kenetics Ireland |
|
2002 |
€79,012.00 |
|||
|
2003 |
€90,792.00 |
€58,280.00 |
||
|
2004 |
€5,527.00 |
€91,416.00 |
||
|
2005 |
€2,636.00 |
€110,945.00 |
||
|
2006 |
€11,250.00 |
|||
|
2007 |
€45,708.00 |
|||
|
2008 |
||||
|
2009 |
€39,000.00 |
|||
|
2010 |
€249,754.00 |
€24,570.00 |
||
|
2011 |
€21,182.00 |
|||
|
Total |
€169,804.00 |
€387,629.00 |
€161,694.00 |
€110,945.00 |
