Vol. 467 No. 4
277 Dr. McDaid asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the information, if any, he has regarding hitechnology jobs in the Border regions; and whether any such jobs will be created in Letterkenny and surrounding areas. [13510/96]
IDA Ireland is at an advanced stage of negotiations with Donegal County Council regarding the development of a high quality business park in Letterkenny. The proposed business park will be located on 25 acres at Lisnenan, Letterkenny and will be developed to an international standard.
It is planned to have a 20,000 sq. ft. building constructed on the site at an early date. The building will then be marketed aggressively to overseas investors in the areas of data processing, software development, medical devices-health care and new high-tech jobs will result.
Over the last two years, Forbairt in conjunction with the International Fund for Ireland has been promoting the North American Partnership Programme. This is an innonvative programme to develop business linkages between companies in the Border region and North America. To date agreements have been signed by a number of Donegal companies including International Test Technologies, Falcarragh, BMR Teo., Bunbeg, MDR Electronics, Bunbeg and Flite Software, Letterkenny. The programme is being extended at present.
Forbairt's international services programme provides advice and consultancy support on services business development and a package of incentives and support facilities for Irish companies involved in a range of internationally traded services. A number of small companies in the Donegal area have benefited from this programme and are creating highly skilled employment in software development and information technology.
