Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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92. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to entice businesses into Cork city centre given the recent closures of a number of businesses in the city. [60788/21]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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What is the Minister of State's plan to entice businesses into Cork city centre given the recent closure of a number of businesses there?

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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There was welcome news recently in the announcement by Penneys, in conjunction with the Tánaiste, that it will expand and invest a lot of money in its Cork city premises. That was an issue about which there was grave concern. I recently met the chief executive of Cork city local authority to discuss the authority's plans for the city centre and to deal with vacancies and to make the city and county a more attractive place to win investment and to create jobs. The local authority has plans in train that we are supporting. The regional enterprise plans are key to driving that activity and take a bottom-up approach to engage with State agencies, those working in my Department, to create jobs in addition to working with the local enterprise office, the local authorities and the education system in order to work through ideas to create solutions and actions that will help create jobs in Cork, including the city.

There has been much success in Cork in recent years regarding jobs, for which I will provide details. Most important in that has been the work with the local enterprise offices. We engaged with them extensively during our recent visit there. Much good work is going on to support and create jobs across many sectors. There are some sectors that cannot be supported with grant aid but can be supported with mentioning, soft supports and trading online vouchers and such initiatives which work well.

It is also important that Cork City Council commissioned a city centre economic revitalisation strategy. Following considerable consultation, it will be available in quarter 1 of 2022. Actions are already under way to make the city more attractive in order to win investments. Seven streets have been pedestrianised, thereby facilitating 1,000 outdoor dining spaces, the approval of 230 outdoor dining grants and the approval of five major winter-proofing grants for outdoor dining areas. The latter are currently being installed.

On Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, much good work has been carried out and they are featured in the regional enterprise plans that will be launched in early 2022. In Cork, Enterprise Ireland works with and assists more than 600 client companies in the city and county, who employ a total of 25,706 people. According to my Department's Annual Employment Survey 2020, a total of 2,712 new jobs were created by client companies in Cork. Considering some job losses by client companies, this translated in a net increase of 686 jobs. Enterprise Ireland continues to work closely with community groups in County Cork, developing community enterprise centres to foster microenterprises, which can in time grow into larger companies. Enterprise Ireland also supports centres in Cork city such as Cork Urban Enterprises, in addition to the Churchfield Community Trust. IDA Ireland is doing great work in Cork. There are 43,856 jobs with IDA Ireland involvement. A big part of its strategy for 2021 to 2024 is a focus on regional development in Cork, including the city.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We must conclude there.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Do I get a chance to respond?

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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You missed your slot.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am afraid not, because we are out of time.