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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 3

Written Answers. - Job Losses.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

36 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action which will be taken to replace the 700 job losses in the Louth area in the past two years. [13947/02]

The provision of jobs is a day to day matter for the development agencies and not one for which I, as Minister, would have a direct function.

I wish to assure the Deputy that IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Louth Enterprise Board, which are the agencies under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for industrial development, are actively marketing Louth as a location for industry.

IDA Ireland is about to start the development of a 63 acre business and technology park in Drogheda adjacent to the new motorway. After commencement of site works the agency will be in a position to seriously market this location. Planning permission has been received for approximately 180,000 square feet of office-light manufacturing space with construction of the first building to begin later in the year on securing a developer.

In Dundalk, IDA Ireland will shortly be applying for planning permission for three units on Finnabair Business Park. In Ardee, IDA Ireland proposes to establish a pharmaceutical project, Galen. However, there is an issue still to be resolved regarding planning permission, and the realisation of the project ultimately depends on full planning permission being granted.

Enterprise Ireland, the industrial agency which deals with indigenous industry, as part of its regional strategy launched in 2001, is committed to driving growth in enterprise, and thereby jobs, in the regions, with particular emphasis on the counties in the BMW region. In 2002 Enterprise Ireland aims to commit in excess of 30% of its financial supports to projects in the BMW region including County Louth: approximately 25% of EI clients are currently located in the BMW region.
The agency is working with its client companies and other key players in the regions to implement its regional development strategy, a feature of which was its June 2001 seminar aimed at encouraging Dublin-based companies to consider expansion or satellite operations in the regions. A number of new initiatives for companies in the Border counties have been introduced, in addition to Enterprise Ireland's existing programmes.
Enterprise Ireland's efforts to encourage and assist industry development is focused on export promotion, assisting the development of innovative products, encouraging new business start-ups with significant development potential, identifying deficits in the operating environment and promoting the north-east as an excellent location for Irish mobile investment. In its efforts to promote County Louth, Enterprise Ireland engages in the following activities such as a new community enterprise scheme, launched in April 2002; this scheme replaces the Enterprise Ireland Community Enterprise Centre Scheme 1989-2001 under which centres were established in Dundalk and Ardee; the proposed establishment of a number of technology hubs nation-wide, termed "Webworks", including one in County Louth; and the investment of €95 million in 12 venture capital funds which will have a dedicated regional focus delivered through four of the funds.
Enterprise Ireland continues to work closely with the Ardee Community Development Company Limited, in the community's efforts to develop a significant business park in the town, with the potential to house ICT-based business.
Under the ‘Micro-Enterprise' Measure of the Regional Operational Programme, the Louth County Enterprise Board continues, with EU funding, to support micro-enterprises employing under ten people, with financial intervention and entrepreneurial development of management and e-commerce skills, and enterprise education in second level schools. To date, 356 enterprises have been approved by Louth County Enterprise Board with 25% in a rural location and 75% in urban areas.
With a remit to foster trade between North and South, InterTradeIreland is operating across all sections of industry, and with every conceivable shape and size of business, complementing the activities of its sister development agencies on the island. Key programmes cover graduate placement, equity awareness, business fora and public procurement and a number of businesses in County Louth have participated in some of these.
I am confident that the combined efforts of the industrial development agencies will result in improved prospects for employment growth in County Louth.
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