James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new foreign companies brought by the IDA to Ennis, Scariff, Kilrush and Miltown Malbay in County Clare since 2000; the number of jobs in those companies; the number of jobs originally projected in those companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37055/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Industrial Development Acts, IDA Ireland is the agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment to this country, its regions and its areas, with the exception of the Shannon free zone which is the responsibility of Shannon Development. The latter is also responsible for providing industrial property solutions in the four towns cited in the question to assist IDA in attracting FDI to the region. Since 2000, there has been one start-up and one expansion of IDA assisted companies in County Clare.

In March 2004, it was announced that Monster Cable Products Incorporated of the United States, the world's leading manufacturer of high-performance cables used to connect audio, video and computer systems, would establish a shared services centre in Ennis that would create 50 new high quality jobs over five years. These jobs would be in finance, order administration, technical support, engineering, merchandising services and supply chain management. At present, the company employs seven people.

In September 2004, Organic Lens Manufacturing began a €6.5 million investment for the development of its manufacturing operation in Ennis to create 100 additional jobs, of which all are now on stream.

A central goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of balanced regional development. IDA Ireland's regional strategy reflects the NSS, with an emphasis on the gateway and hub locations. In Clare, Ennis is designated as a hub location. The attractiveness of Clare, including Ennis, for inward investment has to be seen within a regional context and particularly by reference to Shannon airport and to their location on the Limerick-Galway corridor.

At the end of 2004, there were 917 people in permanent employment in eight IDA supported companies in County Clare, five of which are located in Ennis. Over the last three years employment trends have remained broadly constant in IDA supported companies. Industry sectors such as pharmaceuticals, engineering-consumer products, ICT and health care are well represented in County Clare.

IDA Ireland's sectoral emphasis in the mid-west region is on attracting new knowledge intensive projects in information communications and technology, international services, medical technologies and life sciences.

Between 2001 and 2004, IDA Ireland companies in the mid west committed to research and development projects worth €37 million. IDA Ireland works closely with the local educational infrastructure — the University of Limerick and Limerick Institute of Technology — to foster collaboration between industry and academia with a focus on research and development and emerging new business sectors, such as digital media and e-Learning.