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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 5

Written Answers. - Job Creation.

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

158 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of manufacturing companies which were brought or referred to County Kerry by the IDA in 2002; the total number of all companies brought to Kerry in 2002; and the number of those which have decided to invest in the county. [4889/03]

While the IDA has responsibility for promoting the county as a whole to potential overseas investors, investment and employment opportunities in Kerry are further advanced by the work of Enterprise Ireland in south Kerry and Shannon Development in north Kerry.

Ultimately decisions regarding locations for foreign direct investment, including what areas to visit as potential locations, are taken by the individual investors. One of the key initial requirements of such companies in determining where they will visit, and consequently where they will potentially locate, is high quality office accommodation located in a suitable environment, which is most often a business and technology park. IDA and Shannon Development are working to ensure that Kerry is made increasingly attractive to investors be they foreign or indigenous.
There was one site visit to Kerry in 2002, a software company which visited Tralee in September 2002. There were no visits by manufacturing companies. However it should be noted that 2002, with the downturn in the technology sector and the knock-on effects of the tragic events of 11 September, was a particularly difficult year to attract foreign direct investment.
In terms of foreign direct investment Kerry has been traditionally best served by manufacturing, particularly in the engineering and consumer products sectors; existing overseas investment in the manufacturing sector in Kerry include Amann & Soehne, Beru Manufacturing, Tillotson, located in Tralee, and Liebherr Limited located in Killarney.
The implementation of the national spatial strategy has the potential to create the necessary linkages to enable the region to be internationally competitive. The physical networks of infrastructure such as roads, public transport, energy and communications are at the core of the NSS, improvements in these networks in terms of time and cost will reduce the perceived disadvantage of distance.
The gateways of Cork and Limerick-Shannon supported by the designation of Tralee-Killarney as a hub for development has the potential to create the counter balance to the east coast and promote the economic development in the region.
In an effort to further enhance the attractiveness of Kerry as a location for overseas investment IDA has commenced site development works in 2002 on their business and technology park at Tiernaboul, Killarney, County Kerry. The site area totals 4.66 hectares or 12 acres approximately. This site development work involves significant landscaping and site clearance work, all of which will result in the upgrading of the overall appeal of the location. The work undertaken will cost in the region of €1 million. In addition, the Kerry Advance Factory Group has commenced building work on an advance unit – BES factory – on the estate. This 24,000 sq. ft. advance technology building will be completed in mid-2003 and will then be available for IDA Ireland to market resulting in an alternative property solution to present investors.
In relation to north Kerry since Kerry Technology Park officially opened in 2001, the number of new technology and knowledge-based businesses has grown considerably. Despite the fact that 2002 was exceptionally difficult for the IT-telecoms sector, the park continued to attract new start-ups and existing companies on the park managed to consolidate their positions. At the end of 2002, there were 13 companies on the park employing 125 people which is a significant development for the north Kerry region.
While it is ultimately the client company who makes the decision where it will visit and locate, I am confident that given the efforts of all concerned Kerry will be in a good position to compete strongly for inward investment.
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