Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2005

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Graduate Support Schemes

10:00 pm

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in view of the figures provided regarding new jobs created by IDA Ireland in the Border counties recognising the fact that in the years 2003-04 only 43 jobs were created in County Cavan and ten during the same period in County Monaghan he has plans or commitment to make these two counties priority areas to create high-tech employment for young graduates who at this point in time have no other choice but to leave the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22676/05]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál 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. IDA Ireland is committed to regional development as a core part of its strategy and has set itself a high level performance target for the BMW region, including counties Cavan and Monaghan. This commits IDA Ireland to try to achieve a 50% target of all new greenfield jobs to be located in the region in the period 2000-06.

Substantial progress has being made in attracting new jobs to the BMW given that in 1999, prior to the start of the Government's current national development programme, only some 25% of all new greenfield jobs were located in the region. By 2004, a total of 41% of all new greenfield jobs created by IDA Ireland-supported companies were located in the BMW region. Through its network of local and overseas offices, the IDA is actively marketing both counties on an ongoing basis as a location for FDI. Work in counties Cavan and Monaghan by Enterprise Ireland and by the local county enterprise boards in respect of indigenous SMEs and micro-enterprises complements the work done by IDA Ireland. In the case of Enterprise Ireland, the maximum grant levels available as part of its funding offer are higher in the BMW region, including Cavan and Monaghan, than in the south and east region and a higher proportion of this funding is also non-repayable.

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