Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

315. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any special initiatives will be undertaken by his Department or the State's industrial promotion agencies to assist in the provision of much needed new employment opportunities in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32426/14]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

316. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if any special initiatives will be undertaken by his Department or the State's industrial promotion agencies to assist in the provision of much needed new employment opportunities in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32427/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together.

My Department and its agencies are working together to address the unemployment problem that is currently experienced in counties Cavan and Monaghan by implementing the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs which aims to create 100,000 net new jobs over the period 2012 to 2016.

Monaghan and Cavan are part of IDA Ireland’s North East Region along with county Louth. In the region as a whole, there are currently 36 IDA Ireland client companies employing almost 4,000 people. The main FDI clusters which have emerged in the North East Region are in international business services, mainly Financial Services, and consumer goods and manufacturing. While IDA Ireland always seeks to influence the client decisions on where to visit or where to locate, the final decision in all cases is made by the investor.

At the end of 2013 there were 7 IDA Ireland supported companies in Cavan employing 1,135 people with 6 IDA Ireland supported companies in Monaghan employing 365 people. IDA Ireland has formed strong relationships with these companies and, having regard to the fact that 70% approximately of all FDI investments won by IDA Ireland is from the existing client base, the agency continues to work closely with them in order to ensure their long term sustainability and to encourage their growth, development and continuing re-investment in their sites. IDA Ireland works closely with third level educational institutions in the region so that the skill-sets necessary to attract high value added employment to the Region are being developed.

During 2012, as part of its marketing activities, IDA Ireland began an online marketing initiative, “Connect & Invest”, to showcase the unique attributes of individual regions to international clients and this initiative continues to be implemented in 2014.

Enterprise Ireland works with and supports local entrepreneurs with commercial business plans and also provides preferential funding for entrepreneurs and companies, with detailed export plans, who are expanding or establishing a business in the County as part of the BMW Region.

Payments of over €1.8 million were made to companies in Cavan in 2013 and to date in 2014 over €9.9 million has been approved to Cavan companies. Similarly, payments of over €2.2 million were made to companies in Monaghan in 2013 and to date in 2014 over €6.2 million has been approved to Monaghan companies.

Enterprise Ireland works with both Cavan and Monaghan local enterprise offices in enhancing economic development within the County.

Innovation vouchers give small companies access to the vast knowledge available in Irish Institutes of Technology, Universities and other public research bodies. These vouchers worth €5,000 can be used by the average small Irish company to bring in knowledge that is new to the company. Since the programme began in 2007, 71 vouchers to the value of €355,000 have been approved for companies in Monaghan and 62 vouchers to the value of €310,000 have been approved for companies in Cavan.

The Action Plan for Jobs 2014 includes a commitment to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of the enterprise development agencies and other regional stakeholders in supporting enterprises. My intention is that the framework will be developed on a pilot basis initially, focusing on the midlands region, and involving the agencies under the remit of my own Department – Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. The objective is to enhance synergies between the agencies and their client companies and build on the competitive strengths of the region to maximise the potential for job creation. The role which other public bodies in the region can play in working towards this objective will also be examined as the project develops. The aim is that this framework will serve as a model for other regions of the country.