Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress in employment creation in County Louth with particular reference to the towns of Drogheda, Dundalk and Ardee; the number of jobs created in each location since 2000 by each Government agency and the capital investment made by each Government agency by location in County Louth for each of the years listed. [10447/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Industrial Development Acts support for job creation and investment on a regional or local basis comes within the remit of the industrial development agencies. IDA Ireland is marketing individual areas as a location for additional foreign direct investment, while Enterprise Ireland is concentrating on the development of indigenous industries, and the 35 city and county enterprise boards have responsibility for the micro-enterprise sector.

Enterprise Ireland activity in County Louth focuses on the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies, supporting the set up of high potential start-up companies and enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at national and regional levels through supporting research in companies and third level institutions. County Louth has benefited from the establishment of three major companies in Dundalk and Drogheda in recent years: Hilton Foods Ltd. in Drogheda, Irish Life in Dundalk and Boyle Sports Ltd. also in Dundalk.

Enterprise Ireland is also providing support under the community enterprise centre programme 2002 to Drogheda Development Centre, which is a joint collaboration between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Drogheda Corporation, and is home to three high growth companies whose employment potential is expected to grow significantly over the next two years, and to Ardee Business Park for an extension that will see the addition of ten new units. In addition the agency has provided significant funding for incubation space at the regional development centre at the Dundalk Institute of Technology. Phase 4 of the project, which consists of an additional 15 units, has just been completed and Enterprise Ireland will work closely with the centre to identify suitable client companies for the units.

Louth County Enterprise Board is involved in the economic and social development of the county and provides a single point of contact at local level for new and established small businesses in the region. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, enterprises may qualify for support from the board in the form of feasibility, employment and capital grants. In addition, the board delivers a comprehensive range of development and support programmes designed to help new and existing enterprises to operate effectively and efficiently.

The board has assured me that it will continue to be proactive in ensuring that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development in the Drogheda, Dundalk and Ardee areas. IDA Ireland is promoting its newly developed flagship site in Drogheda and the Finnabair Business Park in Dundalk. The agency is working closely with several clients to ensure they can capitalise on the considerable investment by Government in roads, water provision and treatment and other key infrastructure, as well as education, that has already taken place in the county. IDA Ireland's regional strategy also includes working with existing companies to facilitate their transition to continually higher value activities.

The table shows the numbers of new jobs created in County Louth by each of the agencies for each of the years 2000 to 2004, as well as their total capital investment in County Louth.