Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 671: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress which has been made to attract industrial investment in County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25142/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Support for job creation and investment in individual counties and regions is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies as part of their responsibility under the Industrial Development Acts. IDA Ireland, the agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland, is committed to marketing and promoting Leitrim as a location for FDI. Specifically, the agency is targeting new investments from the financial services, engineering, pharmaceuticals and medical technologies sectors.

At present, there are six IDA Ireland supported companies in Leitrim employing approximately 1,375 people. This figure has more than quadrupled since 2000 when 247 people were employed in overseas firms. This increase has been mainly due to the success of MBNA Corporation, the world's largest credit card lender, which has approximately 1,000 staff based in the headquarters of its Irish operation in Carrick-on-Shannon. The company recently decided to close its St. Stephen's Green offices in Dublin and move all customer service functions to Carrick-on-Shannon, a decision which further embeds the company in Leitrim.

In an effort to further enhance the attractiveness of the county for additional investments and facilitate possible expansions by existing clients, IDA Ireland has invested considerable funding in the upgrade of Keenaghan business park at Carrick-on-Shannon, and has also encouraged a private developer to construct a 27,341 square ft. or 2,540 square metres advance technology building on the park. In all, IDA Ireland has 14 acres available in Leitrim at sites in Keenaghan, Tullyleague, Carrick-on-Shannon, Manorhamilton, Mohill, Rooskey and Drumshanbo. I understand the agency has reached agreement with Leitrim County Council to jointly market these sites for new investment.

Enterprise Ireland, the agency which concentrates on the development of indigenous industries, has approved funding of over €1.4 million and made payments of over €1 million to companies in County Leitrim in support of development projects in the period 2003 to date. In addition, Enterprise Ireland works with local communities in developing business infrastructure in the county through its community enterprise centre programme. These centres foster the development of micro enterprises, which in turn can grow into larger enterprises. Enterprise Ireland has approved funding of over €1.2 million in support of nine community enterprise centres throughout the county.

During 2004 the Leitrim County Enterprise Board approved a total of €200,174 to 22 projects and paid out over €183,000 in capital assistance throughout the region. The board is also supporting the construction of the business and technology park at Ballinamore. Upon completion, the provision of this technology park will facilitate the emergence of new small businesses in the region. I am confident that the policies and strategies being pursued by the development agencies, together with the ongoing commitment and support from Government, will bear fruit in terms of sustainable additional investment and jobs in Leitrim.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 672: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress which has been made to attract industrial investment in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25143/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Support for job creation and investment in individual counties and regions is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies as part of their responsibility under the industrial development Acts. IDA Ireland, the agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland is committed to achieving a more equal distribution of job opportunities and investment in keeping with the national spatial strategy. Traditional manufacturing jobs have come under pressure and significant challenges face the regions in growing higher value sustainable employment.

Despite this, steady progress has been made in the creation of jobs in County Roscommon and surrounding towns. In total in County Roscommon there are almost 900 people employed in IDA overseas companies. At the end of 2004, Innocoll Inc., announced that, with the backing of IDA Ireland, it is investing €6 million in Roscommon town in a knowledge intensive worldwide research and development and manufacturing centre for all current and future drug delivery products based on collagen. This will create up to 60 jobs over four years. The new jobs will be in research and development, engineering, management, quality control and manufacturing. Innocoll will locate in the 24,000 square ft. advance factory on the IDA Roscommon business and technology park at Gallowstown, which has been vacant for the last number of years. Refurbishment work has commenced on the building and recruitment is underway. In addition, this company will establish its European sales and marketing headquarters on the IDA Athlone business and technology park, which will create up to 16 jobs over two years. Some 70% of the total jobs will require third level qualifications.

In an effort to further enhance the attraction of the county for new investments, and to facilitate expansions by existing clients, IDA is undertaking a major upgrade and enhancement of the existing business park at Racecourse Road, Gallowstown, Roscommon. This upgrade commenced last August and will involve an investment of approximately €2.2 million to provide site services, broadband ducting and significant landscaping upgrades. Phase I of these site development works is now completed.

Enterprise Ireland, which is responsible for the development of indigenous industry, works with its partner agencies in County Roscommon to assist in the development of industry in the county. In the period 2002 to date, Enterprise Ireland has approved almost €4 million and invested over €2.8 million in supports to client companies in the county. Furthermore, during 2004, Roscommon County Enterprise Board approved a total of €184,975 to 11 projects and paid out over €300,000 in capital assistance throughout the county.

I am confident that the policies and strategies being pursued by the development agencies, together with the ongoing commitment and support from Government will bear fruit in terms of sustainable additional investment and jobs in Roscommon.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 673: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress which has been made to attract industrial investment in the town of Athlone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25144/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Support for job creation and investment in individual counties and regions is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies as part of their responsibility under the industrial development Acts. Regional development is a significant focus of Government policy and its importance has been confirmed in the national development plan and the national spatial strategy. IDA Ireland, the agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, is fully committed to ensuring an equal distribution of job creation opportunities and to encouraging the establishment of industry in the regions, in particular, the Border, midlands and west or BMW region of which Athlone is an integral part.

As part of its strategy to attract new investment to Athlone, IDA Ireland is investing €3.5 million in a quality flagship business park in the town. The park, which has all the necessary infrastructure in place including ducting for broadband, comprises a modern 13,895 square ft. advance office building and a modern 25,000 square ft. advance technology building, which are currently available. In addition, planning applications have been lodged for five small advance technology units of 5,000 square ft. on the site.

Recent successes by IDA Ireland in attracting FDI to Athlone are as follows. AXA Assist announced, on 21 September 2005, that it is setting up a customer support centre in Athlone. The new centre is expected to create 300 new jobs over the next five years. The company has commenced operations in the office suite of the Airtop buildings on the Dublin road in Athlone and proposes to expand onto IDA Ireland's Athlone business and technology park in line with growing its employment levels.

Innocoll Inc. has announced that it will establish its European sales and marketing headquarters on the IDA Athlone business and technology park, which will create up to 16 jobs over two years. Some 70% of the total jobs will require third level qualifications.

Elan Corporation Plc has decided to establish a new sterile biopharmaceuticals plant at its Athlone facility, creating 120 new jobs over the next five years in supervisory, quality control, engineering, laboratory and operative areas. This is a €35 million investment and the project is nearing completion.

Conor Medsystems, a developer of innovative controlled vascular drug delivery technologies, has invested over €1 million in the establishment of a centre in Athlone based at IDA Ireland's Athlone business and technology park. It manufactures and distributes drug eluting coronary stent products and expects to create up to 40 jobs over three years.

To support the creation of high tech start-up companies in the region, Enterprise Ireland approved capital of €2.54 million for the Midlands innovation and research centre at the Athlone Institute of Technology, AIT, as well as €157,000 towards the cost of a centre manager. Enterprise Ireland also works with AIT in fostering industry third level technology-related projects and since 2003 has approved over €0.7 million and made payments of almost €0.5 million for this purpose.

The new enterprise start programme for the midlands region was launched by E.I. in June 2005 in Athlone, aimed at people interested in developing their entrepreneurial skills. The workshop is part of the agency's new strategy, "Transforming Irish Industry", which has a key target of creating in excess of 200 new high potential start-up companies nationwide by the end of 2007.

The Westmeath County Enterprise Board develops indigenous enterprise potential and stimulates economic activity at local level within the micro-enterprise sector. In the Athlone area alone, the board has assisted 131 micro-enterprises and has provided over €1 million in grant assistance resulting in the creation of 194 full-time jobs and 77 part-time jobs since its inception in 1993. In addition, over 600 people from the Athlone area have participated in training programmes sponsored by the Westmeath County Enterprise Board.

I am confident that the policies and strategies being pursued by the development agencies, together with the ongoing commitment and support from Government, will bear fruit in terms of sustainable additional investment and jobs for Athlone.