Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of those currently at work in the Tallaght area, Dublin 24 in view of recent job losses in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6129/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Employment is broken down by region only and not into specific areas such as the area in question. According to the latest quarterly national household survey published by the Central Statistics Office, employment in the Dublin region for June to August 2004 was 560,200. The corresponding figure for June to August 2003 was 553,900. The unemployment figures for the corresponding quarters were 28,100 in 2003, or 4.8%, and 24,700 in 2004, or 4.2%. The industrial development agencies are continuing to market the Tallaght area for new jobs and investment. Tallaght benefits from having a third level institute — the Tallaght Institute of Technology — and excellent infrastructural facilities at City West and Grange Castle in Clondalkin. Wyeth Biopharma has approximately 700 people employed in Clondalkin and this figure is expected to rise to 1,300 by the end of the year. The Japanese pharmaceuticals company, Takeda Chemical Industries, which will employ 60 people, has begun construction in Clondalkin. At City West, project developments by SAP Support Services, 460 jobs, AOL Technologies Ireland Limited, 204 jobs, and Colgate-Palmolive Support Services, 80 jobs, are providing locally accessible employment opportunities. Following an agreement last year, Enterprise Ireland is supporting the development of business incubation space at the Institute of Technology. This facility is expected to generate quality start up enterprises. The development agencies continue to work with existing companies to assist them to move up the value chain and increase employment potential. Companies who have availed of this process, with financial assistance from IDA Ireland, include Sage and Xilinx in City West. Job losses and job gains have always been, and will continue to be, part of the economic landscape, but our overall unemployment rate is among the lowest in Europe. In the case of job losses, the full services of FÁS, particularly in relation to re-training and up-skilling, are made available to any workers who wish to avail of those services. In addition, FÁS provides a vocational guidance and referral service to all job seekers in the Tallaght area. I am satisfied that the strong infrastructural support already in place, including the opening of the Luas, will continue to attract jobs to Tallaght and the surrounding area.