Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
307. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created and-or lost in each of the past three years to date in Counties Longford and Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50309/13]
View answerTables 1 - 3 below set out the number of jobs created and lost in counties Longford and Westmeath in respect of client companies of: IDA Ireland; Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Boards (CEB’s) over the past three years, i.e. 2010, 2011 and 2012. IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Longford and Westmeath County Enterprise Boards are all working to promote enterprise development in Counties Longford and Westmeath. IDA Ireland is charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions while Enterprise Ireland has responsibility for the development and promotion of Ireland’s indigenous business sector. The role of Longford and Westmeath County Enterprise Boards is to provide a source of support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level.
Counties Longford and Westmeath form part of IDA’s Midland Region along with Counties Laois, Offaly, and Roscommon. The locations of emphasis for IDA in these counties are the National Spatial Strategy Gateway towns of Athlone, Tullamore, and Mullingar. In addition, IDA actively promotes the county towns of Longford, Portlaoise and Roscommon.
Counties Longford and Westmeath have traditionally been centres of manufacturing for foreign direct investment, but in recent years it has proved challenging to maintain and attract overseas manufacturing companies into the Counties as much of this investment globally is going to low cost destinations. Nevertheless, Westmeath is developing itself as a location for high value FDI.
At present there are eighteen IDA Ireland supported companies in Westmeath employing 2,444 people and six IDA supported companies in Longford employing approximately 680 people.
In addition to seeking new investment into the region, IDA Ireland also continues to work with the existing client base in the area encouraging them to embed and grow their operations in the Region. IDA Ireland works closely with educational institutions in the Region, in developing the skill sets necessary to attract high value added employment. IDA is also working with SOLAS to provide guidance in developing the skill sets needed by those already in the workforce who are interested in upskilling.
IDA has also invested in the physical infrastructure required to attract today’s FDI to the Region. This included investing €3.5m in a quality flagship Business Park in Athlone which is now an integral part of the agency’s international marketing programme.
In 2012, 1,557 people were employed on a full time basis in Enterprise Ireland client companies in Co. Longford and 2,352 people were employed on a full time basis in EI client companies in Co. Westmeath. In 2012, €1.33m was paid by EI to companies in Co. Longford and €1.01m was paid to companies in Co. Westmeath for job creation and retention and business development purposes. To date in 2013, EI has held/launched: an Export Awareness Event in Athlone through its new Potential Exporters Division; a Call for Proposals under the Midlands Competitive Feasibility Fund. Nine applicants – including one from Co. Longford and four from Co. Westmeath - were successful in winning funding and are currently progressing with their start-ups. This new Fund provides funding of up to €25,000 per project. The 2013 New Midlands Frontiers Programme is currently underway. 14 start-up companies participated in the 2012 Programme receiving targeted financial support of €15k per start-up.
County Longford and County Westmeath Enterprise Boards created a total of 307 and 484 full time jobs, respectively, over the past three years.
An important Government action, in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, is the creation of a “First-Stop-Shop” at local level for the support of small and micro business which will bring local enterprise support into an integrated national network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). The LEO’s will deliver enterprise policy to the highest standards, offering seamless progression for small business with potential to the existing national programmes run by EI, such as the Midlands Competitive Feasibility Fund. Pending the introduction of the LEOs, Longford and Westmeath CEBs will continue to support Enterprise Development in their areas and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development at county level.
Table 1: 1DA
|
County |
Full time jobs |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Longford |
New jobs created |
4 |
0 |
24 |
|
Longford |
Jobs Lost |
127 |
50 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
New jobs created |
128 |
194 |
252 |
|
Westmeath |
Jobs Lost |
40 |
56 |
30 |
Table 2: Enterprise Ireland
|
County |
Full time jobs |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Longford |
New jobs created |
74 |
86 |
116 |
|
Longford |
Jobs Lost |
192 |
132 |
88 |
|
Westmeath |
New jobs created |
154 |
340 |
275 |
|
Westmeath |
Jobs Lost |
245 |
310 |
104 |
Table 3 : County Enterprise Boards (CEBs)
|
County |
Full time jobs |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Longford |
New jobs created |
111 |
117 |
79 |
|
Longford |
Jobs Lost |
135 |
130 |
100 |
|
Westmeath |
New jobs created |
166 |
188 |
130 |
|
Westmeath |
Jobs Lost |
144 |
211 |
218 |
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey is the source for the enclosed data.
