Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am informed by IDA Ireland that during 2012, there were five site visits by potential investors from overseas to south Tipperary. Also during 2012, Enterprise Ireland, whose focus is on assisting indigenous companies, dealt with 77 client companies in south Tipperary which employ 2,151 people.

South Tipperary forms part of IDA Ireland’s south-east region along with counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford. In south Tipperary there are eight IDA Ireland supported companies employing 3,400 people. The key industry sector for south Tipperary is life sciences, which accounts for almost 90% of employment. The largest employers are Abbott and Boston Scientific, followed by MSD, Pinewood Laboratories and Suir Pharma.

As part of its offering to potential clients, the IDA has invested in the provision of an extensive portfolio of property solutions countrywide. In Tipperary, the availability of the former J&J Cordis facility is an important offering which the IDA is actively promoting. In addition, the ongoing development of the 300 acre park at Ballingarrane in Clonmel is an important asset.

As the Deputy is aware, I established a South East Forum, following the publication of the South East Action Plan in December 2011. That action plan was initiated following the TalkTalk job losses in Waterford and in recognition of the serious unemployment situation in the south-east region generally. Part of the remit of the forum, comprising representatives of relevant agencies and stakeholders, was to examine ways of ensuring better synchronisation of effort in order to avoid duplication and produce synergies that would lead to job creation. The action plan has a number of recommendations which the agencies and stakeholders are charged with implementing. I am satisfied that all these key players in the region have been working together, from within existing budgets, to pursue the plan’s recommendations.

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