Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 149 together.

Since Hospira made its announcement in respect of its Donegal plant, IDA Ireland had been working closely with the company to secure a replacement for the facility. In March 2006, Abbott, one of the world's largest health care companies, announced that it was acquiring the facility from Hospira and that it planned to make a €36 million investment, with the support of IDA Ireland, to establish a manufacturing facility for its diabetes care products in Donegal town. This new investment will create 155 high quality jobs at full production. Abbott has now taken possession of the plant and recruitment of key executives is under way along with the redevelopment of the site to meet the needs of the new company.

As regards employment generally in Donegal I published the report of the interdepartmental group on Donegal in July 2006. I established the group at the request of the Government following a number of major job losses in the county in recent years. I asked the interdepartmental group to focus on the progress being made on infrastructural requirements to make Donegal a more attractive location for enterprise creation, particularly as it makes the transition from traditional to more modern and higher value-added industries. The report showed that Donegal has no shortage of advantages and opportunities in so far as the promise of a brighter future for its inhabitants is concerned. A dynamic combination of State development agencies is active in Donegal, committed to enhancing the attractiveness of the county for business. These agencies have demonstrated the ability to provide a clear vision and focus for future economic development. IDA Ireland will pursue more knowledge-based greenfield FDI sites for Donegal and convince existing IDA clients to transform their current operations to higher value activities. Enterprise Ireland will encourage and assist more innovative, technology-led companies and promote a greater level of start-up activity. These actions are a recognition of the challenges facing traditional industry and both agencies are responding, as is Údarás na Gaeltachta. The county enterprise board will continue to provide existing and new supports to microenterprises complementing the work of both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

The provision of much needed infrastructure has been highlighted as an obstacle to job creation in Donegal over a number of years. I was pleased that the report identified much good news in terms of developments under way or planned in the areas of roads, air, water supply and treatment, broadband, energy and education. These have been solidified and strengthened in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 just launched. Particular emphasis has also been placed in the NDP on North-South co-operation and developments which will be of direct benefit to Donegal.

I also believe that what has already been achieved in terms of job creation in the past year is largely as a result of the ongoing commitment to Donegal of the State development agencies, the infrastructural developments recently completed and the commitment to ongoing and planned developments. In addition to the Abbott announcement, recent major job announcements include SITA, ZEUS, PowerBoard and AssetCo.

I assure the Deputy that the Government and the State development agencies are fully committed to fostering the environment for job creation in Donegal.

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