Vol. 535 No. 1
120 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts which have been made to bring employment to the town of Ballinasloe, County Galway; if she has been in contact with the Industrial Development Authority to promote a major industry for Ballinasloe in view of the job losses announced in the town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12165/01]
The attraction of industry to a particular location is a day-to-day matter for the industrial development agencies and not one in which I have a direct function.
The Government is committed to ensuring the most equitable distribution of job opportunities. Both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are structured on a regional basis so as to ensure that the above objective will be achieved. Over the last 18 months IDA Ireland has radically changed its policies with the objective of delivering half of all new greenfield jobs into Objective One regions in the coming years. This involves doubling the proportion of greenfield jobs negotiated for these regions. In 2000 IDA Ireland achieved this target.
With regard to Ballinasloe, I established the Ballinasloe inter agency group in February 2000 in response to the announcement by AT Cross of job losses at the company. In my announcement establishing that group, I asked the IDA to treat Ballinasloe as a prime location for overseas investment. I also requested the chairman of the group to liaise with the public and private sectors and the community bodies which can assist in promoting the area for investment and job creation. I am informed that work is now under way for the production of a new industrial brochure for the town under the aegis of the group. Work is also being undertaken on the development of a skills profile and training requirements for the AT Cross workforce by FÁS and SIPTU.
In addition to the above activity, IDA Ireland acquired 35 acres of land at Creagh on the east side of Ballinasloe in 1999 for the development of a new high specification business park. Phase one of the development work and all services on the site have now been completed. The IDA has worked with a local group of developers who have completed construction of a new 27,800 sq ft advance unit on the new park. The IDA will be aggressively marketing this building and the business park to overseas clients.
IDA Ireland's efforts to secure inward investment for Ballinasloe have resulted in Valois, a French engineering company, establishing a manufacturing operation in the town. The company is commencing operations in a temporary facility while it is working with its property advisers to design and develop a new customised facility. The company will employ 60 people at full production and recruitment is actively under way.
