Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Support for employment and investment in individual towns is a day-to-day operational matter for the agencies under my Department. Under the industrial development Acts, I may give general policy directives to IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland but I am precluded from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

I am aware that the development agencies have strategies in place and offer a range of supports for investment and employment creation in Mallow and in the wider region. For example, both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland supported the Mallow development partnership in the preparation of its integrated development strategy for the town.

As a hub town under the national spatial strategy, Mallow is a key location for IDA Ireland and is currently the location for four client companies employing approximately 500 people. The IDA is actively marketing the town as a location for additional foreign direct investment through its network of local and overseas offices. The agency has planned a programme of site development works at its Mallow business park, which will be complete by the third quarter of 2006 and which will involve an investment of approximately €400,000. In addition to these site development works, IDA also plans to undertake some refurbishment of the 2,072 square metre advance factory on the park during the first quarter of 2006. There are currently 6.2 hectares available for development at the park and the IDA will continue to market this land to potential clients.

Enterprise Ireland works with approximately 140 companies in the east Cork area, which includes Mallow, with a total employment of some 3,700. In June 2005, Enterprise Ireland south-west region piloted the new enterprise start programme, a joint venture between Enterprise Ireland and FÁS, which has been designed for those mainly in employment who are seeking training in how to start a new enterprise. The agency plans to run the programme in Mallow in the second quarter of 2006.

The North Cork Enterprise Board, which services the Mallow area, focuses primarily on offering "first port of call" business information as well as a guidance service providing support and advice in the development of business proposals. Since 2003, a total of 24 business development training programmes have been offered by North Cork Enterprise Board.

The FÁS south-west region provides an integrated labour market service to the greater Mallow area from the FÁS office located in Main Street, Mallow. Currently a total of 180 people are participating in a range of 11 FÁS-supported community-based projects throughout the Mallow area. I am confident the strategies and policies being pursued by the agencies, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development will bear fruit in terms of additional sustainable investment and jobs for the people of Mallow.

See this speech in context