Written Answers. - Job Creation.
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:
30
Mr. Deenihan
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the closure of three industries in Listowel, County Kerry, over the past five years, and to the growing concern among the workers that another major industry in the town may close shortly; if so, the plans her Department and the IDA have to provide a new industry for the town; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[12252/03]
IDA Ireland has statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland, including its regions and areas. The agency actively participates on and supports the Listowel development group. This initiative brings together all of the resources relevant to the promotion of Listowel and includes the key development agencies for the region, together with representatives of local industry.
IDA Ireland's focus is on promoting north Kerry as a location for investment in international services type projects.
Over the past five years the overall challenges for IDA-supported companies have been difficult and involve a period of transition from dependence on the more cost competitive sectors into the higher value-added activities. Part of this transition has involved job reductions and losses in long established employers. This reinforces the importance and urgency of attracting in the more modern industrial and higher value-added activities.
The success of our economy during the 1990s and in this decade means that Ireland is much less competitive as a location for low wage manufacturing projects. Ireland, including Listowel, must now gear itself towards attracting a different type of investor. The focus for the future must be to attract investment requiring high skill levels, that is, as far as possible, innovation rather than production orientated, and that links to an increasingly sophisticated business environment.
The IDA's overall strategic response to this new competitive circumstance has been towards: a broader vision of what constitutes FDI, with less emphasis on job numbers, and a much greater focus on job quality, higher value-added activities, and making Ireland a centre for innovation and the strategic management of value chains rather than just a manufacturing or basic service location; dedicating resources and expertise to the task of: supporting the long-term competitiveness of existing clients; accelerating regional development; winning new higher quality FDI; and getting a strong position in new emerging FDI sectors.
IDA Ireland believes that regions need magnets of attraction, some compelling business reason or unique selling proposition that will attract investors. The challenge of achieving high value FDI into regional locations is considerable and progress is being made. In the case of north Kerry, Tralee has been designated a hub under the Government's national spatial strategy.
Each region needs a hub of attraction, a location with investment in world class infrastructure and services to be a magnet for the whole region. Around that hub, for approximately 50 kilometres in every direction, the region can grow through attracting a wide range of enterprises, both local and international, which emerge because of the integrated competitive strengths of that region.
IDA Ireland has designated Listowel as a priority town in the mid-west region and the agency is committed to securing a new project for the town. It aims to attract a project from a complete range of IDA Ireland target sectors in either manufacturing or internationally traded services. IDA Ireland has been actively marketing the BES building in Listowel through its property division and its network of overseas offices.
I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by the IDA in north Kerry, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development, will bear fruit in terms of overseas investment and jobs for the people of Listowel.
