Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

There are other factors such as firm consolidation, business take-overs and market forces. County Cork has benefited from an increase in overall jobs from 13,000 in 1998 to more than 20,000 last year. These are largely in the bio-pharmaceutical and ICT sectors. The Deputy is correct in that the Government is committed to developing jobs at third and fourth level, which we call value-added jobs. It is committing €300 million this year to both Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to help progress this aim.

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