Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
561. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency site visits that have taken place with prospective investors to County Waterford and the south east region in the first three months of 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17233/13]
View answerI am informed by IDA Ireland that the Agency sponsored 6 site visits by potential investors to the South East, of which 5 were to Waterford, during the first three months of 2013.
On foot of the job losses announced by the Talk Talk company in Waterford in September 2011, I tasked the agencies and stakeholders in the South East region with coming up with a set of actions to address the long-standing unemployment problem in Waterford and the region generally. The specific recommendations contained in the South East Employment Action Plan, produced by Forfás, are being progressed by a Forum representing the agencies and key stakeholders in the region and I am satisfied with the progress to date on the actions contained in the South East Employment Action Plan. I am particularly pleased with the progress made by IDA Ireland in attracting foreign direct investment to the region. On 28th March, the Taoiseach and I announced that Nypro Healthcare is to establish an additional state to the art medical device manufacturing facility in Waterford. This newly established facility will result in the creation of over 200 new high quality jobs in phase 1 which is expected to increase in subsequent years.
