Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

4. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide details of the employment opportunities created by his Department since 2024 in Cork South-West, specifically in the areas of Beara, Mizen Head, Sheep’s Head, Bandon, Dunmanway, Skibbereen, Drimoleague, Clonakilty, and Kinsale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7073/25]

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister of State provide detailed information on the employment opportunities created by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment since 2024 in Cork South-West, specifically in areas such as the Beara Peninsula, Mizen Head Peninsula, Sheep's Head Peninsula and areas from Inishannon to Bantry? It is important that we create and are seen to be creating good jobs there for the people of that constituency.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Collins for his question. There are now 26,026 people employed in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies in County Cork, a net increase of 846 jobs during 2024. There was also positive job creation recorded across the three LEOs based in County Cork, with 3,076 jobs supported by 618 LEO clients. This represents a net gain in 2024 of 119 jobs. The FDI performance in the south west, which comprises counties Cork and Kerry, has been consistent over the past five years, with employment among IDA clients increasing by 17%. There are 235 IDA client companies in this region, employing more than 51,000 people in the area. In Cork, there are 219 IDA companies, employing 49,898 people. Recent announcements in Cork indicate that Ireland’s value proposition remains strong. For example in February, Infineon announced the creation of 50 jobs and last November saw Qualcomm announcing a $126 million investment, creating more than 150 jobs.

The south west has a significant ecosystem of established companies across technology, life sciences, international financial services and engineering and industrial technologies. It has also won significant investment across all of these sectors over a sustained period, which has contributed significantly to employment growth and positive economic impacts on other sectors of the economy. I continue to emphasise the importance of regional development in the role of my Department’s agencies in driving economic growth in Cork. I highlight the efforts of Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the LEOs to provide businesses with the resources and support they need to thrive, particularly in areas outside the capital.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I failed to welcome her to her new role when I spoke earlier. I wish her the very best of luck going forward.

I was very specific in my question. I have raised the same question with the Minister of State's predecessor in the Dáil before, and I received a lot of answers but they were not specific to these places. I am very concerned, especially living on a peninsula myself, about the peninsulas and where the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment focusing on in areas such as the Beara Peninsula, Mizen Head and Sheep's Head. How is the Department creating jobs and what kind of jobs is it creating? These areas have had a downturn in agriculture because farming is going through a struggle at present. Fishing has been decimated in those peninsulas. I see a wave of cars leaving west Cork every morning going to Cork city. There is nothing wrong with jobs in Cork city and I wish the very best of luck to everyone, but as the Minister of State said, 50 jobs were created in one area recently and there are another 115 following an investment of $126 million. What part of Cork were those jobs specifically assigned to?

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I take the Deputy's point. Balanced regional development is a key priority for the Government and all TDs who are from more rural parts of the country. I will raise the Deputy's specific questions with the Department following this. The number of jobs in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies in County Cork has increased by 846 since 2023, with 26,026 now employed in the county by those companies. The regional impact of Enterprise Ireland's efforts is evident in the distribution of job growth across all nine regions, recording a positively increased number of employment figures.

I take the Deputy's point today, however. There are very specific areas within the county the Deputy is concerned about. We will see if we can get further information on that. As I said, positive creation was recorded across the LEOs in Cork, with 3,076 jobs created and supported by the 618 LEO clients in the county. These companies recorded a net gain of 119 jobs. The IDA clients are now employing 165,484 regionally, or 55% of the client base employment. There are 219 IDA companies in Cork, employing almost 50,000. I will come back to the Deputy more specifically on the areas he inquired about.

Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could come back on that. Obviously employment is good no matter where it is. I know there are massive employers in Cork city such as Apple, the pharmaceutical companies and others. They are second to none and are to be always welcomed and secured. Many people are spending two hours in a car going up to Cork every morning to work and coming back to west Cork because there are no major employment opportunities in those areas. I picked Beara, Sheep's Head and Mizen Head, but I also have concerns about Drimoleague, Skibbereen, Clonakilty, Bantry and Bandon. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State's reply were more specific as to where the jobs are being created because it looks as if the Department is very much concentrating on the city, which is hugely important, but has forgotten there is an area two hours west of Cork city where people would like job opportunities. There could be if there were just a little bit of vision and a common-sense approach.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I will take a note of the specific areas he asked about.

We all want to create the balanced regional development the Deputy has spoken about. The introduction of AI may allow companies to do that and allow people to work in more rural parts. We will focus on that with Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and the LEOs to see how we can support them in achieving that.