Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA supported jobs that were created in County Kerry in 2001, 2002, 2003 and to date in 2004, respectively; the locations at which they were created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28260/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland, including its regions and areas. The table below outlines the number of IDA supported jobs created in County Kerry for the years 2001, 2002 and 2003. This data is compiled from the annual Forfás employment survey. County data for 2004 will not be available until mid-2005.

At the end of 2003, there were 2,205 people in permanent employment in 23 IDA assisted companies in Kerry compared to 2,961 in the same number of companies at the end of 2001. This represents a decline of some 25.5% compared to a national decline of only 6.5% over the same period. Despite this fall however, employment in IDA supported companies in the county is performing relatively well when considered in the context of the recent global downturn which has resulted in fewer companies actively seeking to invest overseas and less companies visiting Ireland.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland in Kerry, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development will continue to bear fruit in terms of delivering the maximum possible level of additional jobs for the county.