Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the 1999 task force on County Donegal unemployment; the further position regarding the 2002 interdepartmental report for County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22568/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Taskforce referred to was established in 1998 in response to significant job losses in the County and the taskforce report ' An Action Plan to Establish Donegal as a Prime, Competitive and Attractive Location for Job Creation' was produced in December 1998. In March 2000, the Donegal County Development Board (CDB) was established as part of the national programme for local government reform. Given the overall remit of the Donegal CDB to co-ordinate public service delivery and development at local level, it was widely accepted that the newly established CDB was the most appropriate vehicle through which to implement the recommendations of the Report.

On this basis An Stráiteis, Donegal CDB's 10 year strategy for the social cultural and economic development of the county incorporated the recommendations of the Taskforce Report. Progress reports on the work of the Donegal CDB are available on their website www.donegalcdb.ie. The backdrop to the establishment of the Interdepartmental Group by the Government, was the continuing concerns about job losses in Co. Donegal following the closure of industries such as Fruit of the Loom and Hospira.

The purpose in establishing the Interdepartmental Group was to secure agreement on a list of projects and actions, requiring priority implementation, that would increase the attractiveness of Donegal as a location for enterprise development. The focus of the Group was to identify the various local issues representing barriers to the establishment and operation of enterprises, to take stock of relevant projects and actions already planned or underway, and, finally to identify measures that could be taken by the relevant Departments and agencies to support the environment for enterprise development and to quantify the resources required. The primary focus of the Group was on actions requiring decisions at national rather than local level.

On 27 July 2006, the then Minister published the Report of the Interdepartmental Group on Donegal. The report identified the various infrastructure developments required to support enterprise development in the County. The report found that the County was facing significant challenges in many sectors, with obvious challenges in Traditional Manufacturing, an above average Unemployment Rate and a need to enhance the education and skills of the workforce. However, the report noted, not just that much progress had been made, but also that there were financial provisions available to complete major infrastructure projects, especially new roads, to equip Donegal further as an attractive location for enterprise development.

Since then, the State development agencies supporting enterprise development have worked together in Co. Donegal to provide a clear vision and focus for future economic development. Donegal became a targeted location for IDA with the County competing for a different type of business to the labour intensive manufacturing which Ireland so successfully won over the past four decades. To encourage overseas investment IDA developed a Business Park in Letterkenny with modern building solutions capable of competing with other locations nationally and also internationally. IDA also worked with the 3rd Level Sector in the region at Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the 3rd Level sector in Northern Ireland to offer the necessary courses aimed at target sectors.