David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 223: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Question No. 135 of 16 December 2004, the number of the 140 Enterprise Ireland supported companies in County Cork which are based in Youghal; the number based in Cobh; the amount of funding allocated to the companies; the number of persons they employ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12402/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I reiterate that the decision to provide support to a particular company is an administrative matter for the agency concerned and not one in which I have a direct function.

The 140 Enterprise Ireland supported companies mentioned in my previous reply are located in east Cork. As the Forfás employment survey for 2004 has now become available, I can provide the most recent data. In 2004, there were 13 Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Cobh, while there were seven Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Youghal. For purposes of clarity, only companies in the Cobh and Youghal urban districts have been included in the figures, which exclude nearby towns such as Carrigtwohill and Midleton, in the case of Cobh, and Castlemartyr, Shanagarry and Ballymacoda, in the case of Youghal.

In 2004, Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Youghal were approved assistance of €27,400 and such supported companies in Cobh were approved assistance of €5,500. Overall approvals for Enterprise Ireland assisted companies in Cobh and Youghal from 2002 to 2004 amounted to €257,462. Payment for the same period to Enterprise Ireland assisted companies in Cobh and Youghal amounted to €503,059. Grant approval is spread over a variety of projects, including capital, research and development, feasibility and management. Employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Cobh for 2004 was 287, representing a slight increase over the 2003 figure of 278. Employment figures in Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Youghal showed a slight decrease from 90 in 2003 to 85 in 2004.