Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2004
98 Mr. Crawford asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs that have been created by the IDA in each of the six Border counties in each of the past seven years; if she has satisfied herself that sufficient progress has been made in this region in view of the Good Friday Agreement; if not, the ongoing problems that are hindering such progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19614/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland and its regions. The following table shows the number of jobs that have been created in IDA supported companies in each of the six Border counties for the years 1997 to 2003, inclusive. In summary, a total of 6,170 jobs have been created in IDA supported companies in the Border counties over the period from 1997 to 2003. Considerable progress has also been made in marketing the Border counties for FDI and IDA is continuing to do so at an accelerated rate for inward investment.
Since 2000, IDA has placed a major emphasis on the delivery of investment to the Border, midlands and west, BMW, region. It is hoped that, through the greatly enhanced infrastructure resulting from the implementation of the national development plan and the focus on the gateway and hub towns designated under the national spatial strategy, considerable investment can be secured for the region over the next few years. IDA has also contributed to, and greatly supports the Border regional authority's plan. This plan is geared towards the creation of a critical mass of industries in the region and to addressing the infrastructural and educational disadvantages of the region to enable it to compete on an equal footing with other regions. This process has been assisted by the fact that conditions for industrial development in the Border counties have been considerably enhanced as a result of the institutions and programmes established as a result of the Good Friday Agreement.
I am confident the strategies and policies being pursued by the IDA Ireland, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development, will bear fruit in terms of additional sustainable investment and jobs for the BMW region in the future.
|
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
|
|
Cavan |
116 |
49 |
35 |
34 |
68 |
47 |
9 |
|
Louth |
406 |
162 |
351 |
1012 |
155 |
179 |
48 |
|
Monaghan |
28 |
24 |
0 |
1 |
22 |
57 |
10 |
|
Donegal |
80 |
54 |
67 |
308 |
353 |
179 |
141 |
|
Leitrim |
33 |
17 |
73 |
4 |
336 |
117 |
575 |
|
Sligo |
154 |
241 |
83 |
185 |
92 |
163 |
102 |
