Vol. 510 No. 2
59 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether she has given any instruction to the agencies under the auspices of her Department on the relocation of companies with labour shortages to areas which have a labour force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22021/99]
The Government is committed, on an ongoing basis, to ensuring the most equitable regional distribution of job opportunities and I have impressed on the industrial development agencies – IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland – the crucial importance of making even greater efforts to provide employment opportunities throughout the country. Both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are structured on a regional basis so as to facilitate a more balanced regional distribution of jobs.
IDA Ireland has developed a new 2000+ strategy which has identified three key objectives over the coming years. These involve better regional development, upgrading the quality of jobs delivered and more effective links to influence competitiveness, particularly infrastructure and skills development, both nationally and regionally. IDA Ireland aims to deliver over 50% of all new greenfield projects to the Objective 1 region which compares to 25% at present. Moreover, in order to achieve better regional balance, IDA Ireland will seek to encourage projects from specific sectors to particular regions. This new strategy was approved by me earlier this year.
In addition, IDA Ireland has an active programme in place targeting existing companies which are experiencing labour shortages to see if they would be willing to locate expansion projects in other locations which need the employment. The agency uses the range of incentives in place to the full in its efforts to achieve this.
However, it must be recognised that many issues influence the locational decisions of investors and while incentive packages can be influential, it is ultimately the companies themselves that decide on where to locate. Other key factors which influence a company in its decision to locate in a particular area include the availability of a suitable labour force with the required skills, the adequacy of infrastructure in relation to roads, airports and telecommunications facilities.
