Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

During the period from January 2000 to December 2005, 160 announcements relating to the intended creation of 30,442 new jobs in companies supported by IDA Ireland were made. I am arranging for a statement setting out the names of the companies involved, details of the activity engaged in, location and the number of new jobs announced to be forwarded to the Deputy.

During the relevant period, client companies of IDA Ireland created 79,984 jobs. A total of 22,998 were created in 2000, 13,052 in 2001, 10,928 in 2002, 9,576 in 2003, 10,825 in 2004 and 12,605 in 2005. Of course, many of these jobs related to projects announced prior to the period in question or not announced at all. It is important to point out that there is always a time lag, often stretching over a number of years, between the announcement of new jobs and their creation. That time is required for such activities as locating and acquiring a suitable site for the company's operations, obtaining planning permission, constructing a facility, installing machinery and recruiting and training staff.

Of the estimated 80,000 created during the period in question, 14,381 related to projects announced during the period. A total of 635 were announced in 2000, 1,590 in 2001, 1,667 in 2002, 3,069 in 2003, 3,358 in 2004 and 4,062 in 2005. Given the time lags to which I have just referred, the process of creating the jobs announced will continue for some years to come.

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