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Gnáthamharc

Job Losses

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 October 2020

Thursday, 15 October 2020

Ceisteanna (66)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

66. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on recent job losses (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will consider addressing the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29605/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Supporting balanced regional development is a core objective of Government. In pursuit of this policy objective, Enterprise Ireland is working with manufacturing and internationally traded services companies in Kerry to build scale, innovate and expand reach - key attributes required to be resilient to economic shocks.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the agency’s overall engagement with client companies, the agency is working intensively with companies to support them stabilise their business, thereby enabling them to undertake a development programme focused on recovery and growth. In addition, the agency is actively working with client companies to ensure they are prepared for a no deal Brexit.

In 2019 Enterprise Ireland client companies reported a record high of 221,895 people in employment. Sixty-Five per cent of this employment is located outside of Dublin. 4,828 people were employed in the 122 Enterprise Ireland supported firms in Kerry.

In the period 2017-2019, Enterprise Ireland paid €12.2 million to manufacturing and internationally traded services clients in Kerry to build scale, innovate and expand reach. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the agency’s overall engagement with client companies, the agency is working with companies in Kerry to support them stabilise their business, thereby enabling them to undertake development programmes focused on recovery and growth. In addition, the agency is actively working with client companies to ensure they are prepared for a no deal Brexit.

Under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, Enterprise Ireland supported 6 projects in Kerry to the value of €7.5 million. These projects include the establishment of two Digital Hubs/Incubation Centres, a RDI Hub focused on Financial Services and Engineering, an Agricultural Centre of Excellence, a science and technology talent, skills initiatives, start-up promotion and a food hub. In addition, under the Regional Technology Clustering Scheme, in 2109, Enterprise Ireland approved €600,000 to 3 projects at the Tralee Institute of Technology.

The Government supports Enterprise Ireland's regional strategy, Powering the Regions, helping to achieve balanced regional enterprise development and seeking to grow and sustain jobs in every county. Initiatives to support job creation and enterprise in Kerry specifically are detailed in Enterprise Ireland’s Mid-West Plan and includes:

- Supporting Killorglin’s RDI HUB boosting Kerry’s financial services, digital innovation and ICT strengths.

- Supporting Kerry’s Agri-Tech Centre of Excellence driving new product development for the Agri sector and creating 300-500 jobs.

- Leveraging University of Limerick, Limerick IT, IT Tralee, the LEOs and key stakeholders in the Mid West to develop a robust pipeline of start-ups.

- Supporting 900 co-working spaces in the Mid-West through Enterprise Ireland's Worksmartchallenge campaign to support 10,000 co-working and incubation spaces in regional locations by 2024

There are 18 IDA client companies in County Kerry employing almost 2,200 people. Since 2014, Kerry has also witnessed an 11% increase in employment in overseas companies with almost 230 net new jobs added during this period. The County has maintained a strong reputation as a successful home to firms such as Astellas, SPX Flow Technologies and Temmler.

IDA Ireland also regularly engages with key stakeholders on the ground in County Kerry including local authorities, the education sector and both overseas and indigenous companies with a view to generating new employment opportunities.

In addition to the general support that it provides to client firms through advice and expertise on investing in Ireland, the Agency is authorised by my Department to provide a range of particular financial supports in the form of employment, capital, research and development, environmental and training grants.

These grants represent an important means of encouraging companies to invest in Ireland, particularly to regional locations. From 2017 to 2019, IDA Ireland paid over €3.9m in grants to client companies based in County Kerry.

The IDA is also working on the formulation of a new strategy that will guide the Agency's work in the time ahead. That new IDA Ireland strategy was due to be launched earlier this year - but was understandably delayed - and it is now hoped to launch the Agency’s new strategy before the end of the year.

The new strategy will take into account the enormous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenging economic environment for foreign direct investment globally. The strategy will also ensure that we are best placed to retain and strengthen Ireland’s attractiveness as a first-class destination for overseas investment.

Both FDI and support for our SME indigenous sector remain fundamentally and equally important to our economic and enterprise model.

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