Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 March 2007
109 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he will take to address low Kerry disposable incomes and high live register figures as per Central Statistics Office data released recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8573/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CSO release on County Incomes and Regional GDP notes that county estimates should be treated with caution because the underlying data are not always sufficiently robust. Also while the Live Register provides data on a county basis it is not designed to measure unemployment. It includes part-time workers as well as seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseekers Allowance or Benefit.
Employment/unemployment is measured by the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) which provides a breakdown of data on a regional basis only. The latest QNHS release (February 2007)) shows that unemployment in the South West Region (Cork and Kerry) in the period Sept-Nov 2006 was 3.6% compared to the figure for the State overall of 4.1%. Numbers in employment in the region for the same period stood at 301,500 an increase of 11,200 over the corresponding period in 2005.
The enterprise development agencies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development) are committed to promoting Kerry as a location for investment, as well as supporting and developing businesses already present in the county. Full time permanent employment in enterprise agency assisted firms in Co. Kerry stands at 5,434 at end 2006.
IDA Ireland continues to work with its existing base of companies with a view to supporting such companies with potential expansions and the agency also targets potential new investment projects. IDA Ireland will continue to actively promote the region and the advantages of locating in Kerry, which include a young skilled population, the presence of the Institute of Technology in Tralee and the availability of first class business parks and a regional airport. IDA continues to market all available land and buildings in the county and has completed a €1m investment in site development works on its Business & Technology Park at Tiernaboul, Killarney, Co. Kerry. The site area totals 4.66 hectares. These works involved significant landscaping, access development and site clearance work, all of which has resulted in the upgrading of the overall appeal of the location.
IDA is also marketing Shannon Development's Kerry Technology Park (KTP) and buildings, which are adjacent to the Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT). This Park has 50 acres of enterprise space including fully-serviced industrial sites, a Business Incubation Centre and a range of quality manufacturing and office style accommodation. It has state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure and access to the facilities, services and resources of the Institute of Technology, Tralee. At year-end 2006 there were 16 companies operating from the Park, employing over 200 people.
Enterprise Ireland activity, in terms of job creation, is focused on the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies, the creation of new jobs by supporting entrepreneurs to set up High Potential Start-Up Companies and also through enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level by supporting research in companies and third level institutions.
Shannon Development has entered into an ‘option-to-purchase' agreement with Shannon LNG in relation to 281 acres of the 600-acre Shannon Development owned land bank between Tarbert and Ballylongford, County Kerry. Under this agreement, it is proposed to build a €400 million liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal on the site. The Shannon LNG project has the potential to provide over 40% of Ireland gas requirements. The terminal could provide about 50 long-term permanent jobs, along with additional support jobs and around 350 construction jobs at its peak.
