Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
280 Mr. O’Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the latest employment figures for Tallaght; the comparison with the same month ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28743/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraForfás, the enterprise, science and innovation policy advisory agency under my Department, undertakes an annual survey to monitor full and part-term employment in companies assisted by the enterprise development agencies. As this data is published on a county basis, no information is available at sub-county level such as city or town. However data from the 2002 census indicates that in Tallaght, 27,620 citizens were recorded in employment. The corresponding figure from the 1991 census for Tallaght was 17,280.
The Dublin operations of the enterprise support agencies are actively working to promote inward investment to enterprise parks around Tallaght and to encourage indigenous enterprise grow their businesses and expand employment opportunities. The Tallaght area has a large reservoir of talent and human resources. My Department's agencies will maintain their emphasis on supporting companies in the area in order to maximise the enterprise and job opportunities that economic growth can deliver.
To help address some specific social disadvantages experienced around Tallaght, Enterprise Ireland has provided grant assistance to encourage local enterprise through four community enterprise centres, that is, at Main Road, Bolbrook, Brookfield and Killinarden. In addition, the south Dublin county enterprise board has approved €125,300 to seven Tallaght based clients with a potential for 25 additional jobs in these projects. The south Dublin board has a priority in helping and advising enterprise promoters and the unemployed from disadvantaged areas both in Tallaght and Clondalkin.
Increasing the rate of technology adoption in small and medium enterprises is essential to increase productivity and give small firms the edge in competitiveness. To this end, Enterprise Ireland is also working with Tallaght Institute of Technology to develop industry-third level partnerships.
