Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 November 2015
24. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware of the impact that the winding down of construction on the Corrib gas field is having on employment in County Mayo; if he or his Department has had any engagement with the agencies in the area regarding a transition plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37995/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Corrib Gas Field is part of the Erris Peninsula – a Gaeltacht area – and falls within the remit of Údarás na Gaeltachta. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) exists since 2009 between Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta in relation to areas of cooperation and coordination between the two agencies. As part of this MOU I understand that:
- Údarás has held meetings with Shell (Erris Development Fund) where upskilling/retraining programmes were discussed. A training programme for 24 welding apprentices is currently being finalised.
- Údarás has provided administration space for Shell in Belmullet over a number of years where approximately fifty staff are employed. It is expected that this figure will grow or at least remain constant into the future.
- The Corrib Gas Field refinery will employ 175 full-time equivalents when fully operational.
- Údarás, in conjunction primarily with SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) and other partners, have been seeking employment opportunities in the renewable energy sphere. Small projects are now beginning to materialise and provide cost saving benefits for the community and provide local jobs.
In relation to my Department’s enterprise development agencies, there are 18 IDA Ireland supported companies in Co. Mayo employing 3,932 people in total. IDA is currently undertaking a property investment programme, amounting to €150m over five years, in support of further job creation in regional locations. The agency has obtained planning permission to construct a facility in Castlebar. A process of procurement is underway and it is anticipated that the contractors will be on site by year-end. This is a positive development for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the regions, including Mayo, allowing such locations to compete with locations internationally.
The Action Plan for Jobs West Region, covering counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, is currently being finalised. The plan is aimed at delivering a 10-15% increase in employment in each region over the coming years. The Action Plan will identify specific measures that can be taken to help the region to realise its economic potential by building on its existing strengths and assets.
Through the Action Plan for Jobs process, progress is now starting to be felt in all regions, including the West and Co. Mayo. The following are some highlights:
- 5,000 additional people are at work in the West in the past 12 months;
- 3,000 fewer people on the Live Register in Mayo today compared with 4 years ago. In the past two years the numbers are down by 2,000;
- Employment in Mayo is up by 834 (12%) in companies supported by my Department (through IDA and Enterprise Ireland) over the past three years. In 2008-2010 employment in these companies fell by 400. A recent example is the 40 jobs announced in a €10m investment in a start-up distillery - the Connacht Whiskey Distillery - part funded by EI, in Ballina, North Mayo.
- Since the Government was elected, €3.3m in grants has been awarded to exporting companies in Mayo supported by Enterprise Ireland.
- The number of people employed by companies supported by the Mayo Local Enterprise Office increased by 53 in 2014 (a 5% increase); the Mayo LEO approved grants totalling over €450,000 to small and micro companies based in Mayo - to help them grow local jobs.
I am confident that by taking a whole of Government regional approach we can build on the significant progress already made and deliver the increased job-creation that is needed for Co. Mayo and the Western region generally.
