Written answers

Wednesday, 2 November 2005

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Job Creation

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael LowryMichael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 366: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to enhance employment opportunities in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31936/05]

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

The issue of job creation is a day-to-day operational issue for the industrial development agencies under the remit of my Department and not one in which I, as Minister, have direct involvement.

IDA Ireland has responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland. The attractiveness of Tipperary for inward investment has to be seen in a regional context and, in that regard, IDA Ireland's regional strategy reflects the national spatial strategy, NSS, with an emphasis on the gateway and hub locations. In addition, IDA actively promotes the county towns of Thurles, Clonmel and Tipperary.

IDA recognises the need to provide high-value employment opportunities in Tipperary that provide sustainable long-term jobs and is consequently targeting companies and projects which are more knowledge-intensive and have a higher skill requirement.

Fundamental to regional success is the quality, calibre and drive of the third level education infrastructure in the region, and IDA Ireland continues to work closely with the Tipperary Institute, the universities of Limerick and Cork, and the Cork and Limerick institutes of technology in the development of new areas of opportunity through its strategic business group, SBG, and towards greater industry collaboration and research through its education, skills and research, ESR, group.

At the end of 2004, there were 2,805 people in permanent employment in 18 IDA-supported companies in County Tipperary. There is a diverse range of companies located in County Tipperary representing several industry sectors such as pharmaceuticals, health care, engineering and consumer products. IDA Ireland is confident that the strategies and policies being pursued in the county, together with the ongoing commitment to regional development, will bear fruit in overseas investment and jobs.

Enterprise Ireland is the national agency responsible for the development of indigenous industry, and Shannon Development acts as its agent in the mid-west region, which includes north Tipperary. Since the beginning of 2002, Enterprise Ireland has approved funding of over €4.9 million and made payments of over €5 million for client companies in Tipperary South. Enterprise Ireland also has a range of services offerings to encourage high-tech, high-opportunity indigenous enterprise such as: project-building; mentoring; training; space; patent protection advice and business angels. Community-based enterprise centres are also a crucial part of the drive to create new regional enterprise and Enterprise Ireland has provided support of over €700,000 for community enterprise centres in Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary town and Clonmel.

Shannon Development supports the indigenous sector in north Tipperary through a range of support programmes. The ICT sector is not well represented in north Tipperary, and Shannon Development has initiated several initiatives focusing in particular on the development of Tipperary technology park in Thurles. There are eight companies operating out of Tipperary technology park, five based in the incubator innovation works. Those companies are involved in e-commerce, digital cinema, software development and health and safety.

Shannon Development initiated the establishment of a Thurles marketing group representing Thurles Town Council, Tipperary Institute, Leader, the county enterprise board, Thurles Chamber of Commerce and Shannon Development to promote the attractiveness of Thurles as an investment location.

Shannon Development has also acquired a 29-acre site adjacent to the N7 in Roscrea with a view to the development of a business park appropriate to the needs of the area. Shannon Development is also involved in Newport as part of its e-towns pilot project. That project is part of a pilot of demonstration locations to develop a template for the renewal or improvement of smaller communities in multiple locations.

Tipperary North Riding and Tipperary South Riding County Enterprise Boards were established in October 1993 to provide a source of support in County Tipperary for small businesses with ten employees or fewer. In 2004 the two boards assisted in the creation of 101 net jobs and paid out €454,608 in grant assistance to 36 projects in the region. Up to the end of 2004, both CEBs contributed to the creation of 1,190 net jobs and delivered over €6.7 million in grant payments to 761 projects in the county as a whole.

For the remainder of 2005, both Tipperary north and south riding CEBs will continue to be proactive in ensuring that all available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development in the micro-enterprise sector throughout the county.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.