Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number, type and location of Irish Development Authority and Enterprise Ireland assisted jobs created in counties Carlow, Wicklow, Meath and Kildare from 1998 to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4107/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The issues of job creation and retention in companies supported by the industrial development agencies under my remit, is a day-to-day matter for the agencies and not one in which I am directly involved. Employment figures for both Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are recorded by Forfás in the annual employment survey. Figures for 2006 are not available yet.

In respect of companies supported by Enterprise Ireland, the agency informs me that the total number of jobs created from 1998 to the end of 2005 is as follows: 1,776 jobs in Carlow; 4,201 jobs in Kildare; 3,428 jobs in Meath; and 4,026 in Wicklow. The new jobs created in the period cover the range of sectors that fall within Enterprise Ireland's remit, namely: food, consumer and retail, industrial and internationally traded services. Many of the new jobs created are heavily concentrated in high value-added, knowledge based companies that offer greater security in the face of intense international competition.

Enterprise Ireland works with companies in its portfolio to assist them grow their sales and exports and improve innovation in order that they can compete on world markets. The productivity improvement fund, which I launched last year, supports manufacturing companies to adopt advanced technologies and focus on skills development to improve productivity, thus laying the foundation for export readiness. Research and innovation are also critical to success in the increasingly global marketplace for all companies, regardless of sector. Enterprise Ireland encourages sustained levels of research and development activity through its RTI scheme and research and development initiatives.

In respect of IDA Ireland, the agency informs me that figures for 2005 will not be available until later this month. For the period 1998 to 2004, IDA Ireland reports the following jobs created in client companies: 97 jobs in Carlow; 4,768 jobs in Kildare; 634 jobs in Meath; and 3,053 jobs in Wicklow. IDA Ireland is actively promoting all four counties for additional new and expansion investment projects. IDA Ireland has achieved the delivery of a new business and technology park in Carlow; a 290 job project for PFPC Financial Services in Navan which was announced last year; and the attraction of some world class manufacturing companies in Kildare.

I am confident the strategies and policies being pursued by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development, will bear fruit in terms of additional, sustainable jobs and investment for counties Carlow, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow.