Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
64. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new jobs that have been created or supported in County Mayo by the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to date in 2021. [52615/21]
View answerRegional development is at the centre of IDA’s new strategy, “Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024”. IDA Ireland is committed to the pursuit of balanced, compact regional development which can deliver complementary efficiency and equity gains, with the overall impact of helping to advance national development. The IDA will target half of all investments (400) from 2021-2024 to regional locations. FDI cannot be the sole contributor in addressing the challenges facing Ireland’s regions but it can have a significant impact in propelling economic recovery and realising more balanced growth.
According to the 2020 Annual Employment Survey, there are 120 IDA supported companies in the West Region, employing 27,695 people in total. The Survey indicates that there are 17 IDA supported companies in Mayo employing 4,955 people in the same period. IDA positions the West Region as home to the leading cluster of Life Sciences industries and a growing technology cluster. IDA Ireland carries out an employment survey of our client companies annually. The 2021 IDA client survey results will be available in Q1 2022.
During 2020 and 2021, there were several significant announcements in County Mayo:
- In October 2021, TELUS International AI Data Solutions announced that it has begun hiring up to 30 new roles in Ballina.
- In July 2021, contract research organisation Charles River Laboratories International Inc. announced plans for an €8M expansion of its testing capabilities at its Ballina, Co. Mayo site creating up to 90 new skilled roles over the next three years.
- In May 2020, Meissner Filtration Products announced that their new manufacturing facility in Co. Mayo is now operational. In 2019 Meissner announced the establishment of the manufacturing facility in Mayo with the creation of 150 jobs over 5 years.
- In January 2020, Allergan plc, marked the opening of its €160m facility at its Westport Campus in Co. Mayo. The new facility will create 63 jobs and enhance Ireland’s position as a strategic global hub for Allergans’ products.
IDA Ireland continues to work to fully support client companies to help retain, transform and position them for future growth.
Likewise, Enterprise Ireland assists companies in every county of Ireland to start and scale, innovate, and remain competitive in international markets, now and in the future. The contribution of Enterprise Ireland client companies to the Irish economy is very important, particularly from a regional and county perspective.
In 2020, 124 Enterprise Ireland client companies in Mayo employed 4,888 people. Payments to client companies in Co. Mayo from 2018-2020 were €4,343,897. This funding assists companies to innovate, be competitive and grow exports.
To date in 2021, client companies based in County Mayo have announced 150 jobs. Enterprise Ireland’s Annual Employment Survey is currently being undertaken, and employment figures by county will be made available in January 2022.
Enterprise Ireland has funded infrastructural projects under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund to support enterprise in County Mayo. To date, €1.9 million has been approved to one project in County Mayo to support new collaborative and innovative initiatives that can make a significant impact on enterprise development in the region/across regions or nationally. A short description of this project can be found below.
In response to Covid-19 the Enterprise Centres Scheme was launched in August 2020 for both profit and not for profit Enterprise Centres to provide them with financial support for the implementation of a 6-to-12-month recovery plan and allow the centre to continue to deliver value added supports to their client companies. Three enterprise centres in Mayo (GMIT Innovation Hub, Moy Valley Resources and Leeson Enterprise Centre) were approved €160,628 under this scheme.
