Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I will address some of the Deputy's points. The recent increase in the numbers on the live register is unwelcome and traumatic for the communities involved. It is an indication of the challenges facing the labour market and the economy as a whole. The Government is taking specific measures to address the challenge and ensure that job losses are minimal and last for as short a time as possible. Our priority is to create an environment that will allow those who have lost their jobs to quickly return to the labour market.

The enterprise development agencies, with FÁS, the employment and training authority, are actively engaged in facilitating job opportunities in Kildare South. Specifically, IDA Ireland's current strategy seeks to progress the development of a knowledge economy so that County Kildare can compete nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment to encourage increased co-operation between foreign direct investment companies and third level institutions in Kildare, such as NUI Maynooth, to work with the existing client base in the county and expand their presence — for example, in 2006 Curragh Carpets relocated to a new facility in Newbridge, maintaining employee levels — to provide modern property solutions with supporting infrastructure, including the recent site infrastructure developments with Braun Oral B in Newbridge, and to work with local authorities and relevant infrastructure providers to influence the delivery of appropriate infrastructure to Kildare.

There are 25 IDA Ireland-supported companies in Kildare employing approximately 10,356 people. The reduction in job numbers in Wyeth Medica, while disappointing, was not unexpected. This is a challenge facing us all, given how multinational companies are conducting global reviews. We must ensure that we remain competitive and that we market Ireland as well as possible. Unfortunately, companies' sister sites are also competing with Ireland. We will ensure that Ireland remains seen as a place to do business.

Wyeth Medica announced the prospect of job cuts in March 2006, which are now being processed because of the significant reduction in the throughput and product volume of new products. However, it is important to note that in October 2007 the company announced an investment of €7.47 million in its research and development facility in Newbridge. The new centre will be at the forefront of Wyeth Medica's development pipeline and will assist Newbridge in attracting a significant number of the new products coming out of the corporate research and development pipeline.

In recent years, Kildare South has attracted world-class manufacturing companies, including Wyeth Medica and Braun Oral B, in addition to Intel and Hewlett Packard, which are also located in the county.

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