Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of manufacturing jobs lost throughout the economy over the past three years; the extent, if any, to which any such jobs were relocated to other economies; the reasons given; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36810/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 251: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of manufacturing jobs created throughout the economy over the past three years and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36811/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of high tech jobs lost throughout the economy in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; if any were relocated to any other jurisdictions; the reasons given for such relocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36812/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of high tech jobs created throughout the economy in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the origin of the investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36813/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of jobs lost throughout the services sector in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the reason given for such losses; if any were relocated to other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36814/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of jobs created in the services sector throughout the economy in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36815/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the extent to which he, his Department and or groups and bodies under his aegis have specifically intervened in the creation of jobs in specific sectors throughout the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36817/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the steps he has taken to assist those with entrepreneurial skills or who have become unemployed with a view to encouraging job creation in the manufacturing and services areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36818/10]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the extent if any to which he and his Department have identified jobs in the manufacturing and services sectors that might appear to be vulnerable in the current economic climate, having regard to the experience of the past five years; the steps, if any, taken or contemplated by way of positive intervention to improve their situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36819/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 to 255, inclusive, and 257 to 259, inclusive, together.

The Industrial Development agency figures for job gains and losses are compiled annually in the Forfás Annual Employment Survey, the most up to date of which details employment figures up until 2009. The figures are in respect of numbers of persons employed in firms assisted by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development, which come under the aegis of my Department. As the information is compiled on an annualised basis, the figures in respect of 2010 will not be available until 2011. Details of the agency figures for job gains and losses are set out in Table 1 accompanying this reply. There are no figures available specific to 'high tech' jobs. The data in the tables in respect of services relates to the services sectors supported by the enterprise agencies.

There are no figures available in respect of jobs relocated to other economies. There are many differing and complex factors that can influence a firm's decision to relocate and these are a reality of the modern globalised economic environment. Notwithstanding this, IDA Ireland has continued to attract and retain high value manufacturing investments from leading global corporations.

Job 'churn' occurs in the internationally trading sector of the economy, in a number of ways and for a variety of reasons. Companies adjust their plant location and utilisation strategies to address matters such as accessing new markets, moving production nearer to customers, meeting firm or market specific customer relationship issues, accessing technology, in addition to business takeovers and consolidations. For much of the last decade, this churn has been positive for Ireland with companies replacing lower value activities with activities of higher value, resulting in better-paid, more highly skilled jobs.

In terms of supporting the creation of new employment opportunities across the country the State development agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, together with the County and City Enterprise Boards assist and promote enterprise development and employment growth in businesses. Despite operating in a very difficult economic environment, there are still investment opportunities in global markets and IDA will continue to compete vigorously for projects for Ireland. So far this year, there have been 63 IDA announcements with the potential to create in excess of 4,700 jobs.

Enterprise Ireland delivers a wide range of supports to Irish companies, targeted at the specific requirements of clients throughout all regions to ensure that they develop to their full potential in terms of innovation and exports, which in turn, stimulates job creation. In addition, the Employment Subsidy Scheme and the Enterprise Stabilisation Fund have been introduced to assist vulnerable but viable companies to maintain employment and to develop and sustain their businesses respectively.

The role of the County and City Enterprise Boards is to provide support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate entrepreneurship at local level. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the Boards support individuals, firms and community groups provided that the proposed projects have the capacity to achieve commercial viability. The Boards give priority to businesses in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors.

Statistical information in relation to CEBs is collated annually. My Department does not collect or retain information on the number of specific job losses in CEB assisted companies. Information on existing jobs in CEBs-supported companies for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 is set out set out in Table 2 accompanying this reply.

Table 1

Table 2

*Based on CEB Annual Employment Survey