Written Answers Nos. 230-240
230. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when a hub (details supplied) in Naas, County Kildare, will be completed; when it will be operational; the interest to date from companies to locate there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30101/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department through Enterprise Ireland has approved funding totalling €59.5 million to 42 projects under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund to date. On 24 June last I announced Call 3 of this Fund with an additional allocation of €45m.
The MERITS hub is one of the projects funded under Call 1 of this initiative announced in December 2017. The Mid East Regional Innovation Think Space (MERITS) is a new build project to cluster Irish and international new-technology companies and provide mentorship and support in Naas, County Kildare. The project is supported by strong collaboration with Kildare County Council, Maynooth University/ MaynoothWorks, Kildare Chamber and the 3 Mid East LEOs (Kildare, Meath & Wicklow).
Enterprise Ireland has been informed that the build completion date for the MERITS hub is estimated to be October 2020, with the occupation date estimated to be during the period November to December 2020. The MERITS hub has reported a strong local demand for office space of this nature especially given the lack of such infrastructure in the locality.
I launched the new Regional Enterprise Plan for the Mid-East region, which covers Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, on the 7th February last in Naas. It is focused on four Strategic Objectives, specifically: developing the Screen Content Creation Sector, developing innovative co-working spaces, supporting the agri-food sector and ensuring the availability of skills and talent.
Within the Mid-East Regional Enterprise Plan there is a focus on the creation of at least 10 Hubs/co-working spaces based on the MERITS model. Plans are progressing for additional hubs in Co. Kildare, Co. Meath and Co. Wicklow.
231. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she will provide details of all entities in which she or her Department holds shares; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30177/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo shares are held in the name of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation or the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
232. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the contracts her Department and agencies under her remit are engaged in for the provision of security services; the name of each contractor; the procurement process involved; the duration of each contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30235/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSecurity Services contracts are in place in two of my Department's Offices namely Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), 16 Parnell Square, Dublin 2 and Patents Office, Hebron Road, Kilkenny. The procurement process for both were via Office of Government Procurement National Framework Agreement for the provision of Security Services.
The ODCE contract is with Synergy Security Solutions and started on 1 June 2019 for a period of three years with two optional 12-month extensions.
The Patents Office has a contract with Securway At Risk Security Group Limited, T/A Sar Security. The duration of contract is for two years with two optional 12- month extensions (currently on first extension until 2nd April 2020).
My Department does not routinely collect details of (security contracts etc.) entered into by the agencies under the aegis of the Department. This is a day to day operational matter for the agencies concerned and not one in which I have a direct function.
233. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA made to south County Kildare and Athy over the past five years; the number of additional jobs and investments secured in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30328/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra234. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA made to counties Carlow and Kilkenny over the past five years; the number of additional jobs and investments secured in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30329/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra235. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA made to County Waterford over the past five years; the number of additional jobs and investments secured in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30330/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra236. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA made to County Wicklow over the past five years; the number of additional jobs and investments secured in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30331/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra237. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits the IDA made to County Galway over the past five years; the number of additional jobs and investments secured in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30332/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 to 237, inclusive, together.
Regional development remains a key priority of mine as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Through my Department and its Enterprise Agencies, I am focused on strengthening investment and job creation all over the country. In 2018, 56% of all net new jobs created by IDA Ireland were in locations outside Dublin. Similarly, every region in Ireland posted net gains in jobs last year. There are now over 132,000 people employed across 681 firms in IDA client companies outside the capital. In fact, 58% of all IDA-supported employment is now outside of Dublin. This represents the highest number of people employed in the regions by IDA clients in the Agency’s history. The strength of the IDA's recent mid-year results for 2019 indicates that we can continue to rely on the selling points that make investing in the regions so attractive in the first place with the technology, financial services and pharmaceutical sectors performing extremely well.
Kildare and Wicklow are part of IDA Ireland’s East & Mid -East region. There are 29 IDA supported client companies in County Kildare, which collectively employ 8,838 people - representing an increase of 4.5% over the previous year. IDA clients such as Intel, Pfizer, and Procter and Gamble are all located in Kildare and continue to perform well. FDI levels in Wicklow are also trending in the right direction. The County saw a 17% increase in FDI employment last year, with 388 net new jobs added by IDA client companies.
IDA Ireland’s South-East region includes Counties Kilkenny, Waterford and Carlow. There are currently five IDA client companies located in Kilkenny employing a total of 711 people which represents an 8% increase since 2015. County Waterford has 38 IDA client companies employing approximately 7,100 people, representing an increase of 3% over last year with 374 net new jobs added. There are currently seven IDA client companies operating in Co. Carlow employing a total of 1,150 people. Last year alone, the number of IDA supported jobs in Carlow increased by 31% with 275 net new jobs added. A further boost to the County was MSD's announcement late last year that it plans to construct a second manufacturing facility at its existing site in Carlow with the creation of 170 new jobs.
County Galway is part of the IDA’s West region and is home to a strong base of multinational companies. There are 81 IDA clients in the County employing 19,969 people, which represents an increase of almost 8% over last year. Galway has developed into a focused global centre of FDI activity providing knowledge intensive services for global companies such as Boston Scientific, Medtronic, HP and CISCO.
Table (A) outlines the employment figures for the years 2015-2018. Figures for 2019 will not be available until the end of the year. Data on IDA-supported jobs is collated on a county-by-county basis. Information on the number of jobs in specific towns and locations is therefore unfortunately unavailable. Table (B) outlines site visits to the respective counties from 2015 to Q1 2019. Whilst site visits are an important tool in helping showcase regional locations to investors, it is important to remember that the final decision as to where to invest rests solely with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant proportion of all new foreign direct investment comes from existing IDA clients already present in the country. Investments by IDA clients are released as national figures only and Table (C) outlines the number of these investments won from 2014 to 2018.
Table (A) IDA Employment 2015-2018
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Carlow |
768 |
802 |
875 |
1,150 |
|
Galway |
15,463 |
17,041 |
18,503 |
19,969 |
|
Kilkenny |
650 |
762 |
716 |
711 |
|
Waterford |
5,574 |
6,253 |
6,690 |
7,064 |
|
Wicklow |
2,203 |
2,234 |
2,230 |
2,618 |
|
Kildare |
10,123 |
9,740 |
8,452 |
8,838 |
Table (B) IDA Site Visits 2015 to Q1 2019
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
Q1 2019 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
3 |
|
Galway |
41 |
42 |
62 |
54 |
9 |
|
Kilkenny |
10 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
|
Waterford |
31 |
17 |
11 |
21 |
8 |
|
Wicklow |
7 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
Kildare |
7 |
8 |
10 |
8 |
3 |
Table (C) IDA Ireland Annual Total Investments 2014 - 2018
|
Year |
Total Number of Investments |
|
2014 |
197 |
|
2015 |
213 |
|
2016 |
244 |
|
2017 |
237 |
|
2018 |
265 |
238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of support services for children and teenagers identified as having a tendency to self-harm; the number of instances of such vulnerable young persons his attention has been drawn to in the past two years; the extent to which it has been possible to make a positive intervention; if particular deficiencies have been identified in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30464/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
239. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health if the new endoscopy unit and other medicine units proposed for Naas General Hospital, Naas, County Kildare, are included in the HSE capital plan for 2019; if so, when construction will commence and is expected to be completed regarding the improvements to the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30093/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra240. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health if phase 3C of Naas General Hospital is included in the HSE capital plan for 2019; if so, when construction will commence and expect to be completed on the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30094/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
My Department is currently in discussions with the Health Service Executive and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with a view to finalising the HSE capital plan over the coming weeks.
However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to provide you with details of the current position and plans regarding proposed capital developments at Naas General Hospital including the accommodation and ancillary services to support a new endoscopy unit, physical medicine unit, physical therapy unit, oncology unit and day procedure department and the new mental health unit on the grounds of Naas General Hospital.
