Written answers

Tuesday, 7 March 2006

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Industrial Development

11:00 pm

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the discussions he has had with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland regarding the declining numbers of jobs being created by their client companies in the Waterford constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9063/06]

Photo of Brian O'SheaBrian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs lost in the Waterford constituency in IDA and Enterprise Ireland client companies in the years 2002 to 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9065/06]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together.

Job creation and retention are matters for the development agencies concerned and not ones in which I have a direct function. I am informed that data on job gains and losses are compiled from the annual employment survey carried out by Forfás. The following figures indicate the number of jobs lost by the client companies of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in the period 2002 to 2005. It should be noted that, as the Forfás employment survey for 2005 is now being completed and is in the process of being analysed, the figures are provisional and subject to change. The number of jobs lost in Waterford by Enterprise Ireland client companies for the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 were 527, 269, 549 and 583, respectively. The number of jobs lost in Waterford by IDA Ireland client companies for the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 were 241, 174, 339 and 132, respectively.

The Forfás figures indicate a net gain in jobs in IDA supported companies in County Waterford, increasing from 5,334 in 2002 to 5,800 in 2005. In Enterprise Ireland supported companies, the figures indicate a net loss in jobs over the same period, decreasing from 5,728 in 2002 to 5,246 in 2005. The major contributor to the job losses in Enterprise Ireland companies was the redundancy programme in Waterford Crystal which involved a total of 485 jobs. This involved the closure of its Dungarvan plant as well as further downsizing in its main plant in Kilbarry, County Waterford.

In terms of job creation, Enterprise Ireland activity is focused on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs, setting up new high potential start-up companies, the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies and enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level through support of research in companies and third level institutions.

Since the beginning of 2003, Enterprise Ireland approved support of more than €8.4 million and made payments of more than €8 million in County Waterford to support investment in areas such as research and development, capability building and process development. In addition, Enterprise Ireland staff provide supports for companies engaging in a range of international activities.

Enterprise Ireland also assists with the development of infrastructure to support start-up businesses and facilitate job creation and has provided €2.54 million for the construction of an incubation centre at the Waterford Institute of Technology. The centre has now been completed and the first tenants have recently taken up residence. Enterprise Ireland also provided funding for the development of 13 community enterprise centres in the south-east region over the past ten years, four of which are in County Waterford. As the gateway location for the south east, IDA Ireland is seeking to develop Waterford city as a first-class location for overseas investment with the necessary infrastructure, skills availability and support services capable of attracting investment into Waterford and the entire region. The key greenfield sectors being targeted are pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, ICT and international services. IDA Ireland is developing a major greenfield site at Belview, three miles from Waterford city, which will be capable of accommodating large-scale utility intensive industry, most likely in the pharmaceutical and ICT sectors. In addition, IDA Ireland is continuing to actively market its new 70 acre business and technology park on the Cork Road in Waterford city through its network of overseas offices.

In 2005 the US financial services company, Bisys Hedge Fund Services, announced plans to establish a new hedge funds operation in IDA Ireland's business and technology park in Waterford which will create 250 new jobs over five years. Further announcements regarding job creation in IDA Ireland supported companies over the last few years include a new centre in Waterford for Ubiqus which will create 69 jobs, an expansion by ABB Transformers providing an additional 70 jobs and an expansion by AOL of its contact centre in Waterford providing 125 new jobs.

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