Written Answers Nos. 133-136
133. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will reconcile the figure of 1,515 jobs announced for County Louth by the Industrial Development Agency in 2013, with the actual figure of jobs created in the county by IDA supported companies of 386 for the same period. [10790/13]
View answerJobs announced by IDA Ireland are typically created over a period of between 3 and 5 years from the announcement, depending on the company’s business plan. It should also be noted that some investment and job creation projects are not announced.
During 2012, there were five IDA Ireland job announcements for County Louth with the potential to create a total of 1,515 jobs. The companies involved were PayPal, Diaceutics, National Pen, Yapstone and Nextag.
In relation to Nextag, I am informed by IDA Ireland that, due to changes in its global operations, the company will not now be opening an international HQ operation in Drogheda. I understand that the company will continue to monitor future investment opportunities in Ireland. IDA Ireland has indicated that the decision not to proceed with the project had been taken by the company before any lease commitments were entered into and that no financial support has been provided to Nextag.
134. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an annual target for the creation of jobs already announced in Industrial Development Agency supported companies for the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 for which grant aid has been committed. [10791/13]
View answerOne of the high level goals in IDA’s Strategy Horizon 2020 is the creation of a total of 105,000 new jobs in the economy - 62,000 direct jobs in client companies and 43,000 indirect in the wider economy - over the period 2010 to 2014. IDA is making good progress in achieving this particular target and, by the end of 2012, the agency had delivered 36,000 gross jobs, slightly ahead of target. During 2012 alone, 12,722 new jobs were created in IDA client companies. Furthermore, there were 88 investment announcements by IDA client companies with the potential to create in the region of 8,000 jobs.
IDA Ireland has explained that there is usually a time lag of between three to five years between the announcement of an investment and the jobs coming on stream as a result of that investment, and, that some investment and job creation projects are not announced in accordance with the company’s wishes. The Agency has also confirmed that grant payments are not made until critical project milestones relating to jobs coming on stream are reached.
In order to ensure that Ireland can continue to compete globally for foreign direct investment (FDI), it will be necessary to undertake an in depth analysis of our FDI strategy with a view to informing the formulation of an appropriate strategy for the period post 2014. This analysis, which will be undertaken later this year, will take account of factors such as key trends emerging in FDI best practice internationally, Ireland’s strengths in attracting FDI, any changes to the EU’s State Aid rules that may be introduced in the near future and our agreed approach to regional development.
In the meantime, IDA Ireland has assured me that it will in 2013, in accordance with the Government’s 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, seek to target more than 130 new investments, secure €500 million of R&D expenditure and create 13,000 new jobs in its client companies.
135. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new jobs created by new investments by Industrial Development Agency sponsored companies in County Donegal over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10819/13]
View answerThe Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports, on a county basis, on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies. Information is provided by companies on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only. It is not possible, therefore, to provide information at company level or for individual locations throughout a particular country. It should be noted, also, that there is usually a time lag of between three and five years between the announcement of an investment and the jobs coming on stream as a result of that investment and that some investment and job creation projects are not announced.
I am informed by IDA Ireland that its client companies created a total of 739 new jobs in Donegal in the five year period from 2008 to 2012. Details of the number of new jobs created in each year are set out in the tabular statement. At present, there are 14 IDA Ireland client companies in Co. Donegal employing 2,228 people in full and part-time positions.
IDA Ireland has indicated that the challenge it faces is to continue to win top quality foreign direct investment (FDI) for Ireland in a very challenging global environment. International competition for FDI has become extremely intense and continues to increase. 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. IDA Ireland, however, tries to influence these choices by prioritising the marketing of Gateway locations within each Region as the locations of critical mass with sufficient scale of population, skills, infrastructure, companies, business services, etc. and highlights the opportunities provided by Hub locations which are within commuting distances of these Gateways.
With continuing enhancement and improvements in physical and digital infrastructure, an FDI project secured for one Gateway can have a positive impact on other Gateways and their surrounding areas. It must be acknowledged, however, that the decision on where a client company will locate a new FDI investment is ultimately made by the senior managers of the companies involved.
I am mindful of the concerns that have been expressed by Deputies on all sides of the House about the relatively low level of site visits to certain regional locations and I have 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.
I am mindful, also, that in order to ensure that Ireland can continue to compete globally for FDI, it will be necessary to undertake an in depth analysis of our FDI strategy with a view to informing the formulation of an appropriate strategy for the period post 2014. This analysis, which will be undertaken later this year, will take account of factors such as key trends emerging in FDI best practice internationally, Ireland’s strengths in attracting FDI, any changes to the EU’s State Aid rules that may be introduced in the near future and our agreed approach to regional development.
Notwithstanding the challenges it faces, IDA Ireland has assured me that it will in 2013, in accordance with the Government’s 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, seek to target more than 130 new investments, secure €500 million of R&D expenditure and create 13,000 new jobs in its client companies.
Table Showing the Number of New Jobs created in IDA Ireland Client Companies in County Donegal in each of the years 2008 to 2012
|
Employment |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Number of New Jobs created |
67 |
63 |
152 |
271 |
186 |
136. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a list of the members or former members of the Judiciary who, during the past five years, have acted as chairperson or member of any body in or under his Department, or as chairperson or member of any inquiry, or have performed functions including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, patronage, advisory or law reform functions or any other role in or in any body under his Department or in any body wholly or partly funded by him, specifying in each case the name of the judge; if he or she is serving or retired; the court of which he or she is or was a member; the role or function performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10883/13]
View answerThere are no members or former members of the judiciary who, have acted in the capacity described in the Question, for my Department during the past 5 years.
