Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2015
250. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which jobs have been created in County Longford in each of the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and in 2015, to date, arising from small and medium enterprise investment; the efforts his Department is making to spread job creation to the midlands; and in particular to County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7145/15]
View answer253. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he is taking to secure jobs for County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7148/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 253 together.
The Midlands has a strong cluster of Medical Technologies and Life Sciences companies (Abbott, Covidien, Integra, GeneMedix, Freund, Utah, KCI, AMS) and International Business Services companies (Teleflex, AXA, NPD Group and PPD). These international brands are an attraction for additional companies to potentially locate to the Midlands.
There are 35 IDA Ireland client companies based in the Midlands Region, employing in the region of 3,800 across the region. Of these, 6 IDA companies are located in Co. Longford and employ 650 people.
Set out in Table 1 is the number of jobs created by IDA companies in Co. Longford over the last four years.
Table 2 shows Enterprise Ireland's Full Time Job Creation in County Longford for the period 2010-2014.
There are 46 companies based in Co. Longford supported by Enterprise Ireland which employ 1,984 people. Enterprise Ireland companies have performed well and have added over 350 additional new jobs in the last 3 years.
As well as the day-to-day opportunity for entrepreneurs to apply for Enterprise Ireland start-up funding through the local regional office and compete for the national Competitive Feasibility Fund (CFF) and the Competitive Start Fund (CSF) that Enterprise Ireland run on quarterly basis, there are specific local activities planned this year for the midlands Region.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) provide supports, both financial and non-financial (or “soft” supports), to micro and small enterprises in the start-up or expansion phase in manufacturing and services, subject to certain conditions. The soft supports include the provision of business advice, mentoring and training to all clients. This would include the provision of assistance in relation to all aspects of starting a business, such as preparing a business plan and accessing finance, etc. The LEOs also provide a referral or signposting service to other State Agencies, including Micro Finance Ireland, which may be in a position to provide assistance.
Figures for the number of jobs created by the LEOs are set out in Table 3. The Deputy should note that the figure for the net number of jobs is determined by the sum of the number of net full-time jobs and half of the number of net other-time jobs for each year in question.
Statistics in relation to the number of jobs created or sustained in 2014 through support provided by the LEOs are currently being compiled as part of the LEO Annual Employment Survey of client companies, and will be available later this Quarter.
Data on jobs created by the IDA, EI and the LEO's in 2015 will not be available until next year.
The Government is determined to ensure that every region will benefit from the economic recovery. Last week, along with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, I announced the details of a comprehensive new Strategy to support enterprise growth and job creation at Regional level. The Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative seeks to build on the success of the annual Action Plan for Jobs process by developing locally driven plans that can build on the strengths and opportunities identified in each Region. The first Regional Plan will be published in the coming weeks for the Midlands Region (including County Longford) with 6 Plans published by July and all 8 in place by Quarter 3 this year.
Table 1: IDA Ireland job creation figures:
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
||
|
Longford |
Total Jobs |
658 |
696 |
701 |
650 |
|
Gross Gain |
6 |
44 |
25 |
10 |
|
|
Gross Losses |
-67 |
-6 |
-20 |
-61 |
|
|
Net Change |
-61 |
38 |
5 |
-51 |
Table 2: Enterprise Ireland job creation figures:
|
County |
2010 FT Gains |
2011 FT Gains |
2012 FT Gains |
2013 FT Gains |
2014 FT Gains |
2010 Other Gains |
2011 Other Gains |
2012 Other Gains |
2013 Other Gains |
2014 Other Gains |
2010 FT Loss |
2011 FT Loss |
2012 FT Loss |
2013 FT Loss |
2014 FT Loss |
2010 Other Loss |
2011 Other Loss |
2012 Other Loss |
2013 Other Loss |
2014 Other Loss |
|
Longford |
64 |
86 |
116 |
147 |
258 |
59 |
31 |
20 |
79 |
129 |
-180 |
-132 |
-88 |
-71 |
-25 |
-52 |
-42 |
-21 |
-11 |
-13 |
Table 3: Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) job creation figures:
|
Year |
Full Time Gains |
Full Time Losses |
Other Time Gains |
Other Time Losses |
Net Full Time |
Net Other Time |
Net(Full Time +(Other Time/2)) |
|
2013 |
121 |
-110 |
87 |
-92 |
11 |
-5 |
8.5 |
|
2012 |
79 |
-100 |
55 |
-38 |
-21 |
17 |
-12.5 |
|
2011 |
117 |
-130 |
81 |
-80 |
-13 |
1 |
-12.5 |
