Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 354: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the immediate need for industry in the town of Ballina, County Mayo; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this Mayo town desperately needs an employment injection to ensure its survival rather than decline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31413/05]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is more than six years since the IDA created employment in Ballina; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that industrial employment is severely reduced in this ever-developing town; if he will consider establishing industry in Ballina in view of the fact that there is a new IDA industrial park in the pipeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31343/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 355 together.

Support for job creation and investment in individual counties is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies as part of their responsibility under the Industrial Development Acts. While I may give general policy directives to the agencies, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. In line with the national spatial strategy, a key goal for the agencies is the achievement of balanced regional development.

IDA Ireland, the agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland, has assured me that it is actively marketing and promoting the linked hub towns of Ballina, Castlebar and Westport for new greenfield investment. At the end of 2004, there were 22 IDA Ireland-supported companies in Mayo, employing 3,213 people. The agency is actively working with those clients with a view to encouraging them to grow and expand.

To underpin those efforts, they are working with local groups, utility providers and other agencies to ensure that Ballina has the appropriate infrastructure to support growth and attract new projects. In that regard, IDA Ireland has been deeply involved with local partners in the development of regional planning guidelines, and negotiations are at an advanced stage to acquire 27 acres of land on the Sligo Road in Ballina that will be developed into a high-quality business and technology park.

Enterprise Ireland is the agency which concentrates on the development of indigenous industries. Since 2003 Enterprise Ireland has approved funding support of over €4.6 million and paid more than €2.4 million to companies in County Mayo. Of that amount, Enterprise Ireland client companies in the Ballina area have been approved funding of almost €1 million. That financial support will enable the companies to fund their plans for innovation and new product development.

Enterprise Ireland also works with local communities and the county enterprise board in developing the business infrastructure in the county through its community enterprise centre programme. Enterprise Ireland has supported a total of ten community enterprise centres in County Mayo. In addition, it has committed funding of over €0.7 million to Moy Valley Resources IRD Group for the development of enterprise space in Ballina. That centre, which was completed at the end of 2004, is being marketed to potential clients.

Since January 2004 Mayo CEB has approved grant aid totalling €85,000 in favour of five separate micro-enterprise projects in Ballina. In addition, during 2005, the board provided training support to 36 people on courses also based in Ballina.

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