Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

The strategies and policies pursued by the development agencies, in partnership with other key interests, are intended to ensure new employment opportunities in Thurles and the surrounding area. The objective is to replace the companies that have closed with the companies of the future. There has been a significant churn in the economy, which has been reflected in Thurles and the north Tipperary area. I am conscious of the need for the agencies to work together in tackling this situation.

The IDA Ireland strategy for Thurles and north Tipperary involves developing the knowledge economy by winning new foreign direct investment in innovation-driven, high-skills sectors. The agency is also working with its existing company base to expand their presence in Ireland by the addition of new functions of scale and by deepening their strategic functions. Another of the agency's strategies is to influence the provision of property solutions and the supporting infrastructure to meet the requirements of inward investors.

The IDA recognises the need to achieve high value employment in north Tipperary and is committed to marketing the area as part of its national goal of achieving balanced regional development. It has five supported companies in north Tipperary, employing some 680 people, one of which, a pharmaceutical distributor, is located in Thurles. In addition, investments by two companies in Roscrea and Templemore will result in significant additional employment for the entire area, including the surrounding towns.

The IDA also works closely with Shannon Development in the development, promotion and marketing of tailored property solutions to potential investors throughout the mid-west, including the development of Tipperary Technology Park in Thurles. Shannon Development has completed the first stage development of Tipperary Technology Park, which includes 25,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art accommodation, to facilitate the attraction and development of knowledge-based enterprises. The park is a component of IDA Ireland's international marketing programme.

Enterprise Ireland activity in Thurles and north Tipperary is focused on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs setting up new high potential start-up companies and the retention and creation of jobs in existing companies. Enterprise Ireland also works with its clients to enhance the innovation capability of Irish companies at both national and regional levels. A significant number of Enterprise Ireland client companies in the county are actively developing their businesses. A number of enterprise start programmes have been completed in recent years in conjunction with the Tipperary North County Enterprise Board and the Tipperary Institute, based in Thurles. There are further plans to run a number of enterprise start programmes of short duration in 2008 in Thurles and Nenagh to drive the potential of developing new businesses in the area. In 2006, the agency supported the North Tipperary Food Enterprise Centre in Rearcross, near Thurles, under the community enterprise centre scheme. This premises is currently under construction.

During 2006, the North Tipperary County Enterprise Board approved in excess of €295,000 to 16 projects and paid out more than €238,000 in grant assistance to 18 projects, which resulted in the creation of 21 net jobs in county enterprise board-assisted companies throughout north Tipperary. The North Tipperary County Enterprise Board also organised 56 different types of training interventions during 2006, based on meeting the wide and varied needs of the small business owners and managers of north Tipperary. Furthermore, 629 participants attended training programmes run by the North Tipperary County Enterprise Board during 2006. In October 2006, there were 934 people on the live register in Thurles and the most recent data available, which is for October 2007, show that the figure has risen by 29 to 963. However, this figure has decreased by 37 from the September 2007 figure of 1,000 people.

I believe that the strategies and policies that are being pursued by the State development agencies in partnership with other key players to drive their marketing and promotion efforts, together with the Government's ongoing commitment to regional development, will bear fruit in terms of investment opportunities and job creation for both Thurles and the north Tipperary area generally. Furthermore, I am confident that the co-ordinated and cohesive response to which I referred earlier will bring additional industrial activity to the region.