Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. Waterford has a long and strong track record as a centre of manufacturing expertise. It is also an important transport hub. It has an excellent institute of technology, with higher ambitions. It is the capital of the south-east region, which happens to be my region. County Waterford has a key strength in engineering in both the indigenous and overseas sectors. In recent years, there has been significant growth in advanced manufacturing, particularly in the life sciences sector, and in the international and financial services sector. In recent years, the business environment has become more challenging for companies in lower value manufacturing.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills today welcomed the announcement by the European Parliament of its approval of Ireland's application for assistance under the European globalisation adjustment fund, EGF. The application encompasses more than 650 workers who were made redundant at the Waterford Crystal plant in Kilbarry and ancillary enterprises in 2009. The EGF application is for just under €4 million, of which the Government is providing almost €1.4 million, with the remainder coming from the EGF. This is the second EGF application in support of redundant Irish workers affected by the adverse impacts of globalisation to be approved for assistance under the fund. It responds to the strong case made by the Government and the EU recognition that the measures to assist workers formerly employed in Waterford Crystal justify financial support. Since the Kilbarry and related redundancies last year, the relevant State agencies have been implementing measures in support of the workers. For example, FÁS has provided occupational guidance and interview skills to more than 480 redundant workers. To date, almost 250 redundant workers have availed of training places in a variety of disciplines. The vocational education committees, Enterprise Ireland and the city and county enterprise boards are also offering a range of educational and enterprise supports to former workers.

It is clear that we are operating in a very difficult economic environment. In addition to the normal level of job losses, many IDA Ireland client companies announced significant reductions in their global workforces as they came under increasing pressure to survive. A number of such companies are being supported by IDA Ireland to retain substantial employment. In the case of Waterford, IDA Ireland gave direct support to companies in 2009 to maintain approximately 2,000 jobs which were at high risk. We must remember that there are 31 IDA Ireland-supported companies, employing approximately 5,960 people, in Waterford city and county. IDA Ireland is committed to balanced regional development. One of the high level goals of the agency's strategy document, Horizon 2020, which was published earlier this year, is that 50% of all foreign direct investments will be located outside Dublin and Cork by 2014. The challenge in achieving an even spread of investment intensifies as the sophistication of investments increases. Competition for foreign direct investment comes not just from other countries, but from city regions with populations in excess of 1 million people. Dublin is the only recognised city region in Ireland that meets this criterion. If foreign direct investment is to continue to contribute to balanced regional development, other regions of the country must be promoted as regions of scale with urban centres that provide the range of infrastructure and services that high value investment projects demand.

In the case of Waterford, IDA Ireland is concentrating on the gateway city of Waterford and the town of Dungarvan. In addition to marketing the area for new inward investment, IDA Ireland is actively engaged with the existing IDA Ireland client base in Waterford city and county to encourage a transition to higher value activities and to promote further investment in Ireland. Clear evidence of the transition to more knowledge based and higher value activity can be seen in the resilience of companies such as Bausch & Lomb, Honeywell and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as newer additions to the county's portfolio such as Citi Hedge Funds, Genzyme and Sun Life Financial. In marketing County Waterford for new foreign direct investment, IDA Ireland is focused on attracting overseas companies in the services and knowledge-based industries, including advanced manufacturing. Sectors of focus in the medium term will be life sciences, information and communications technology, international services and high technology engineering.

IDA Ireland also provides tailored property solutions to its clients and potential clients. In Waterford, the agency has developed the 28 ha. Waterford Business and Technology Park and the Dungarvan Business Park. In addition, it is developing a large-scale 55 ha. greenfield site in Belview which is specifically targeted for larger-scale utility-intensive overseas investments. A further 20 ha. site, the Knockhouse lands, is available adjacent to the Genzyme facility on the Kilmeaden Road.

IDA Ireland continues to work closely with third level educational institutes in the region so that the skill sets necessary to attract high-value employment to the county are developed. IDA Ireland maintains a close relationship with FÁS to ensure the requirements of industry, particularly in the area of training and skills, are met. While IDA Ireland actively encourages new investments in Waterford, it is ultimately the investor who decides where to locate.

According to the latest figures available, there are 183 Enterprise-Ireland-supported companies in Waterford, employing more than 3,600 people. So far this year, more than €1.8 million has been paid out to Enterprise Ireland client companies in County Waterford. In 2009, the City and County Enterprise Boards in Waterford issued €400,000 in grant support to 56 micro-enterprise projects and 1,113 people took part in CEB-organised training programmes.

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