Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies that were brought or referred to County Kerry by IDA Ireland in 2004; the type of business in which they are engaged; and the number that have decided to invest in the county. [14105/05]

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. Ultimately, decisions regarding where to locate, including what areas or sites to visit as potential locations are taken by investors. In 2004 two companies visited the Kerry region, one an ICT company which visited Killarney and Tralee and the other an international services company that visited Killarney. To date, neither company has decided to locate in Ireland.

In addition to targeting potential new projects, IDA Ireland is also working with its existing base of companies in the region with a view to supporting such companies with potential expansions and diversification of activities, which strengthen their presence in the region. During 2004, three expansion projects were announced in Kerry, the details of which are as follows. Dollinger (Ireland) Limited is to be the global centre for production of its compressed air products range. This €1.1 million investment will create over 70 new jobs over the next four years and has resulted in Dollinger re-locating to larger premises. Liebherr Container Cranes Limited is to recruit six highly skilled R&D personnel for a new R&D specialised team. The team, which will be of strategic importance to the parent company and will enhance the facility's role as the centre of control for Liebherr's container crane products, will develop products from concept through to product launch. In addition, any intellectual property developed will be the property of the Irish company. Fujisawa, one of the world's top 30 pharmaceutical companies, announced that it had invested €17 million in the expansion of its Irish operation in County Kerry. The company has a total employment of 280 people and has constructed a 27,000 sq. ft. extension to provide additional production space for the new operation.

At the end of 2004 there were 2,022 people in permanent employment in 21 IDA-supported companies in County Kerry. I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland will bear fruit in terms of maximising sustainable investment and jobs for the people of Kerry.