Vol. 572 No. 2
87 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress to date in achieving the aim within the Donegal task force report to reduce unemployment to the national average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22682/03]
88 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself that the employment agencies are achieving the employment goals of the Donegal employment initiative task force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22683/03]
89 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the policy efforts being made to assist in attracting industry to the north west region and Inishowen in particular; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22684/03]
90 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the initiatives which are under way to address the unemployment statistics in the north west region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22685/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 to 90, inclusive, together.
The Donegal County Development Board (DCDB) is responsible for the implementation of the recommendations in the Donegal task force report. The DCDB is implementing the recommendations through a county strategy which provides for the strategic development of the county over a ten-year period.
The DCDB has already indicated that what is required is a co-ordination of local and national resources and a recognition of the particular types of obstacles faced by a county with a peripheral location and highly dependent on access and infrastructure for its future development.
Responsibility for this co-ordination rests with the DCDB which is overseeing the development needs of the county.
I will be meeting a delegation from the DCDB on 16 October. The meeting will focus on key priority economic infrastructure projects within the context of promoting job creation, protecting jobs and attracting investment to County Donegal.
The latest Quarterly National Household Survey published by the Central Statistics Office on 28 August 2003, shows a decrease in unemployment for the border region. The unemployment rate for the region has fallen from 6.8% for the second quarter in 2002 to 6.4% for the corresponding quarter in 2003.
A number of major new projects have commenced operations in the north west region in recent years. These include Abbott Ireland, PacifiCare, Prumercia and MBNA. Some 24 community enterprise centres have been funded in the north-west to-date (including ten in County Donegal). I recently announced that Convoy Community Enterprise Centre had been approved €100,000 for additional enterprise space.
The Inishowen Development Forum meets regularly to promote the development of the area. The Keith Prowse project commenced operations in Buncrana last year. Planning permission has also been sought by IDA Ireland for a 20,000 sq.ft. factory in Buncrana.
Overall, I am satisfied with the work done to date by the State development agencies and the Donegal County Development Board. I would reiterate the Government's continuing commitment to ensuring the most equitable regional distribution of job opportunities.
