Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to recent statements by Tralee Chamber of Commerce, County Kerry, expressing grave concern regarding the loss of jobs in the town and the failure by the IDA to bring a major industry to the town in the past five years; the action both his Department and the IDA propose to take to create jobs in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2714/06]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will visit Kerry in the near future to meet with the local chambers of commerce, Kerry County Council and other interested parties to discuss the failure of the IDA to attract new industry to Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2717/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 85 together.

In response to a similar question posed by the Deputy in December last I indicated that I had visited Kerry on 21 July 2005 with officials from my Department and the State development agencies. It is my firm intention to visit the Tralee and north Kerry area as soon as my departmental and parliamentary commitments permit and I look forward to discussion with the local chambers of commerce and other interested groups about investment and economic development generally in the region.

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and I, as Minister, am precluded from giving directives to the agency regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

At the end of 2004 there were 2,022 people in permanent employment in 21 IDA supported companies in County Kerry. I have been informed by IDA Ireland that employment in client companies in north Kerry increased by 7% in 2005, which is above the national average.

IDA is committed to the development of north Kerry and recognises the need to provide high value employment opportunities that provide sustainable long-term jobs. IDA's strategy for the area is to target companies and projects, particularly in the engineering and consumer products sectors, which are more knowledge intensive and have a higher skill requirement as these types of projects are better capable of integrating into the local economy and being sustained in the long term.

Shannon Development has responsibility for the provision of property solutions in north Kerry which is part of the IDA mid west region. IDA is actively marketing the Kerry technology park, KTP, adjacent to the Institute of Technology, Tralee, and also the Listowel development centre, as property solutions to potential overseas investors. IDA officials are also working with the local authority, chamber of commerce, Shannon Development and private property developers in the Tralee area to improve the infrastructure for investment. The installation of broadband connection, via the metropolitan area network, will be a valuable addition to this infrastructure when completed. In addition the agency is working continuously with the existing client base to deepen the global strategic importance of Irish operations within parent corporations.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development, will continue to bear fruit in terms of maximising sustainable investment and jobs for the people of Kerry.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA assisted jobs that have been lost in Kerry each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2715/06]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created in Kerry by the IDA each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2716/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together.

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. The Forfás annual employment survey records jobs gained and lost in companies supported by the Industrial Development Agency. Data are compiled on an annualised basis but data on a county basis for 2005 in respect of IDA client companies are not yet available from the agency.

However, at the end of 2004 there were 21 IDA supported companies operating in County Kerry employing 2,022 people. During 2004, 100 new jobs were created in IDA supported companies in the county and 284 jobs were lost in supported companies. The number of jobs lost and gained in Kerry in each of the years from 2000 to 2004 is set out in the tabular statement.