Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue for the second time in a month. Although I am probably not allowed to talk about the Ceann Comhairle, he has shown a great interest in and support for Tallaght over the years, particularly in his previous portfolio.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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So has the Deputy.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am happy to put on record the fact that the Ceann Comhairle is spoken of in glowing terms concerning the Shamrock Rovers stadium.

A month ago I spoke in the House about job losses in Jacob's where 230 permanent jobs and 130 seasonal jobs will be phased out over the next year. I took the view then that it was a big blow for Tallaght. Over recent days we heard another bad announcement, this time from Microprint, another good company in Tallaght, which is ceasing production at that facility. Microprint is the computer manual and magazine printing company which, among other publications, produces the RTE Guide. I thought everybody read the RTE Guide but it is a blow and I do not want to be flippant about it.

Tallaght is the third largest centre of population in the country and, as I have said on many occasions, it cannot afford to lose jobs. We must focus on creating jobs there. As I said with regard to Jacob's a month ago, our first priority is to express our solidarity with the workers in Microprint. Some 130 families will be affected by the job losses there. We hope the company will be generous and not only provide a high level of redundancy payments but also take account of its employees' future needs. I appeal to the company to do precisely that.

I acknowledge the interest of the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Billy Kelleher, who addressed this issue for me a month ago. He is present in the House again now. He certainly has been supportive concerning the issues I have raised. Apart from the need for Jacob's and Microprint to look after their workers, these job losses, which total almost 500, highlight the fact for the Government and State agencies that Tallaght has the same job creation needs as everywhere else. Deputies from Limerick, Kerry, Cork and elsewhere will make the same point about their communities. I believe, however, that I can make a very strong case for Tallaght which is a huge population centre with at least 25,000 school students. If we start haemorrhaging jobs it will put us under even more pressure.

The Tallaght that I moved to almost 40 years ago is a different place today, thank God. Since the Square opened on 23 October 1990, there has been major job creation with significant progress in the town. Tallaght is now a city in all but name. It is a great place. One can drive there on great roads or go on the Luas. One can visit the hospital, the civic centre, the theatre, the Square and the National Basketball Arena, where I was this morning. It is a vibrant and positive place but we are concerned about job losses and account must be taken of these blows to Tallaght.

I want to stress that Tallaght has major needs. While not wishing to compete with anyone else around the country, I expect the Minister to prioritise the job creation requirements of Tallaght which needs special attention. I hope that not only will we see job creation initiatives for Tallaght in the coming months but also help for companies that are in difficulty. I appeal to the Minister of State not only to deliver his reply but also to stress to his senior Minister tomorrow the concerns I have raised in this regard. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his courtesy in allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy O'Connor for raising this matter. I was disappointed to hear about the further job losses announced last Monday at a company in Tallaght, coupled with the previous announcement of job losses at Jacob's. It is obviously disturbing news for the community. I commend the Deputy on continually highlighting the need for job creation in the Tallaght area generally.

While I am conscious of the effect that job losses have on the workers involved, their families and the local community, I assure the House that State agencies will make every effort they can to develop new employment opportunities for Tallaght. The role of FÁS, the industrial training agency, is especially important in assisting those who lose their jobs. The agency has written already to the company that announced the job losses last Monday advising of the services available to the company and its workforce. The agency is prepared to offer its full range of services to any employees who lose their jobs and wish to avail of its services.

When such job losses are announced, the State development agencies — Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, FÁS, the South Dublin County Enterprise Board and the South Dublin County Development Board — adopt a co-ordinated approach in dealing with the situation and in making the workforce aware of supports available to assist in finding new employment or to start their own businesses.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by the State development agencies will continue to drive investment, enterprise development and job creation in Tallaght. In terms of job creation, Enterprise Ireland's activity is focused on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs in manufacturing and internationally traded service companies that are setting up high potential start-up companies. The agency also supports the provision of incubation space for new start-up companies and works toward enhancing the innovation capability in its client companies through the support of research both in companies and in third level institutions. In addition, the agency also focuses on the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies.

Since the beginning of 2004, Enterprise Ireland has made payments of more than €8.7 million to companies in south County Dublin to enhance their capacity, capability and performance. Working in partnership with the local community, Enterprise Ireland has approved support for the development of community enterprise centres. These are located in Bawnogue, Neilstown, Whitestown, Main Road — Tallaght, Bolbrook, Avonbeg, Brookfield and Killinarden. The M50 enterprise platform programme is under way in Tallaght's institute of technology, in conjunction with Blanchardstown Institute of Technology and Dublin City University. This is a one-year rapid incubation programme designed for entrepreneurs who wish to start their own business. The agency also works closely with the Institute of Technology, Tallaght in encouraging the commercialisation of research and has approved financial support of more than €2.6 million to the institute for the development and management of a campus-based incubation centre.

At present, IDA Ireland's strategy is to progress the development of a knowledge economy so that we can compete internationally for foreign direct investment. The agency continues to work with its existing clients to develop their businesses further and provide world class property solutions with supporting infrastructure.

Tallaght and south-west Dublin is actively promoted and marketed by IDA Ireland to potential investors and is well equipped to compete with other areas for potential foreign direct investment. The attractions of the area include a third level institute and excellent infrastructural facilities at Citywest and Grangecastle. The further development of the business parks at Citywest and Grangecastle will ensure the area remains an attractive location for investment, particularly foreign direct investment.

The announcement in November last that Microsoft Corporation had selected Grangecastle as the location for its new European data centre reflects Ireland's standing internationally as a global knowledge based economy. It also demonstrates the commitment of IDA Ireland to growing next generation businesses in south-west Dublin and is evidence of the suitability of the area for world class investments. In addition, the pharmaceutical company, Wyeth Biopharma, has established the world's largest biopharma campus facility in Grangecastle, currently employing more than 1,300 highly skilled people. Wyeth also recently announced its intention to invest an additional €24 million in the creation of dedicated research and design facilities at its Grangecastle campus. It is important that we continue to attract high-end knowledge based jobs, particularly in research and development.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by the State development agencies in Tallaght will continue to support enterprise development and provide employment opportunities in the area. I reiterate that the State agencies will continue to work closely with each other and with local interests to provide an integrated approach to increasing the flow of potential investors and promoting job creation in Tallaght. Deputy O'Connor outlined some of the fine facilities in Tallaght. I assure him we are conscious of the need to support this area of rapid population growth, with a high proportion of young people and a highly motivated community. I am confident that the supports we are providing and the investment potential that exists will ensure there are plenty of job opportunities for people in Tallaght. I commend Deputy O'Connor on continually highlighting the need not only for job creation but for investment in training, education and the upskilling of the workforce. All this will have a positive impact in the coming years.