Vol. 494 No. 3
136 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which she intends to develop employment in Inishowen and north Donegal particularly in view of threatened redundancies at Fruit of the Loom. [18198/98]
As you are aware, the Government is committed to ensuring the most equitable regional distribution of job opportunities and I have impressed upon the industrial development agencies the importance of making even greater efforts to provide employment throughout the regions.
As a result, there has been a greater emphasis by the agencies — IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland — on the regional development of industry, in particular, the dispersal of investment projects and Donegal is now a priority location for IDA Ireland. IDA Ireland has introduced a number of significant measures to encourage new investment in Donegal, including the following: (a) increased grant levels for potential investors; (b) investment in land and buildings including (i) a new Business Park in Letterkenny, (ii) a new 25,000 sq. ft. building currently under construction in Letterkenny Business Park, (iii) a new advance office building planned for Letterkenny; (c) IDA is also working with existing companies to encourage expansions.
