Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 730: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs lost in the private sector in County Wicklow in the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. [1062/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The tabular statement sets out the losses in full-time jobs and the full-time job gains in companies assisted by the enterprise development agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA, in County Wicklow for the years 2002 to 2005. While these figures reflect the more difficult global market of the last few years, it remains the case that full-time employment in agency assisted companies in Wicklow is 12% higher in 2005 than it was a decade ago, increasing from 6,332 to 7,120 employed. In the broader local economy, the live register for County Wicklow shows a fall of 125 between December 2004 and December 2005, from 4,554 to 4,429.

The enterprise development agencies are committed to promoting Wicklow as a location for investment, as well as supporting and developing businesses already present in the county. IDA Ireland continues to work with its existing base of companies with a view to supporting such companies with potential expansions and the agency also targets potential new investment projects. For example, the European headquarters of Nabi, a biopharma company from the United States, was officially opened in April 2005 at the IDA business park in Bray and is expected to employ between 30 and 40 people by the end of this year. Enterprise Ireland activity, in terms of job creation, is focused on the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies, the creation of new jobs by supporting entrepreneurs to set up high potential start-up companies and also through enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level by supporting research in companies and third level institutions. Since 2003, Enterprise Ireland has approved €8.606 million and paid €6.603 million to client companies in the county. During 2005 Wicklow CEB approved a total of €263,773 to 23 projects and paid out more than €494,000 in capital assistance throughout the region. In 2006, Wicklow CEB will continue to be actively involved in the county's economic and social development and will continue to be proactive in ensuring available funds are targeted to maximize entrepreneurial development throughout the locality. I am confident the strategies and policies being pursued by the development agencies, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development will bear fruit in terms of additional sustainable investment and jobs for County Wicklow.