Written answers

Thursday, 3 November 2005

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Industrial Development

5:00 pm

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a task force was set up in the Cavan region at the time a company (details supplied) failed to set up the new factory there as promised; if there was such a task force, the progress it has made towards a replacement company; if inward visits have been made to Cavan town or county in an effort to provide foreign investment for the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32132/05]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that a task force was not set up at the particular time. However, the establishment of a financial services operation in Cavan town, which now employs almost 1,000 people, has been of particular benefit to the area as a whole.

The industrial development agencies continue to promote the area for both overseas and indigenous industry. Cavan Business Park has received approximately €1 million in funding from IDA Ireland for upgrading to make it more attractive for inward investment. While there has been only one site visit to Cavan in recent times, IDA Ireland's Cavan site is consistently marketed by the agency's network of overseas offices and frequently features in its presentations to potential inward investors visiting the north-east region. Enterprise Ireland's main area of activity in County Cavan is the further development of the building construction materials sector and the agency is working with a number of companies in this regard. Several food companies are also emerging in the county with assistance from Enterprise Ireland.

I am satisfied that the strategies adopted by the industrial development agencies under the aegis of my Department will be successful in attracting further employment and investment opportunities for County Cavan.

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits to Navan the industrial promotion agencies have made in each of the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and to date in 2005; the number of such visits planned for the remainder of 2005; the priority he has instructed the industrial promotion agencies to give to job creation in Navan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32135/05]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Support for job creation and investment is a matter for the industrial development agencies. Under the Industrial Development Acts, I may give general policy directives to IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland but am precluded from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others. Ultimately, decisions regarding where to locate, including what areas or sites to visit as potential locations, are taken by investors.

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment. I understand that from 2002 to date, a total of 30 site visits have been made to Navan and it is anticipated that a further two or three will be made before the end of 2005. Of the total, five took place in 2002, five in 2003, 11 in 2004 and nine in 2005 to date.

I understand from the agency that its strategy for County Meath is to target greenfield and expansion projects in financial services, international services and information and communication technology with particular emphasis on the marketing of Athlumney House, Navan to financial and international services companies. The securing of the PFPC hedge fund project with 290 jobs at Athlumney House is a very satisfactory outcome.

Site visits have concentrated on the Navan area in the period of January to February 2005. The full resources of local and regional bodies are being utilised in presenting the advantages of Navan and County Meath as a location for business and investment. Since the beginning of 2002, Enterprise Ireland, the agency with primary responsibility for fostering indigenous industry, approved almost €8 million in support to its client companies in County Meath and made payments of more than €5 million in the same period. This investment involved support in areas such as research and development capability, building and process development.

Meath is becoming an attractive location for Dublin-based firms wishing to expand their operations. Lir Chocolates is a notable example of a firm that wished to expand its sales exports and employment, but was constrained in a city-centre location. The company relocated the business to the Navan IDA Business Park in July 2004 and received support from Enterprise Ireland to grow its business in the new location. Enterprise Ireland has approved grants totalling €277,000 for the establishment of Navan Community Enterprise Centre. The centre is fully occupied and more than 200 people are employed in various enterprises there.

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