Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2013
16. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created by Industrial Development Agency supported businesses along the Border region; and the total number of job losses in IDA supported business along the region. [9051/13]
View answerThe Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies supported by the enterprise development agencies. The 2012 survey shows that the total number of new jobs created in IDA Ireland’s client companies in the five Border counties of Cavan, Louth, Leitrim, Donegal and Monaghan was 619 while the number of job losses was 264.
IDA Ireland has informed me that there are a total of 52 IDA client companies located in these five counties which employ 5,390 people in full and part time employment. IDA Ireland has explained that, in seeking to achieve balanced regional development and the broader goal of securing new foreign direct investment (FDI) projects for Ireland in a very competitive global environment, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading global corporations require a significant population pool, access to qualified talent, world class physical and digital infrastructure as well as the availability of sophisticated professional and business support services. Ireland has only one such Region, the Greater Dublin area, so in order to achieve balanced regional economic development, IDA prioritises the marketing of its Gateway locations within each Region as the locations of critical mass and highlights the opportunities provided by other locations on an opportunistic basis, which are within commuting distances of these Gateways.
With the improved infrastructure that is now in place, a significant number of people commute within Regions and a project win in one location has a positive impact on the other surrounding areas. In this context, during 2012 there were a number large job announcements in Louth which will have a positive economic impact, both directly and indirectly, on the Border Region as a whole.
I am mindful of the concerns that have been expressed to me by Deputies on all sides of the House about the relatively low level of site visits to certain regional locations. I have, accordingly, raised this matter with the CEO of IDA Ireland with a view to exploring what further initiatives can be taken to influence potential investors to invest in such locations.
That having been said, we must remember that it is the investor in all cases who decides where to invest and an investment win for Ireland regardless of the location has to be seen as a plus for the country as a whole. I have no doubt that the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, which is to be published in the coming days, will build on the achievements of the 2012 Plan and bring increased employment and prosperity to the regions generally.
