Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he intends to take to restore employment in north Mayo and in Ballina, County Mayo, in view of the fact that the employment rate in the town is 11%, which is twice the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10166/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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According to the quarterly national household survey, the unemployment rate for the west region for the last quarter of 2005 was 4.3%. I also note that the live register recorded a decrease in Ballina from 1,574 to 1,421 over the 12-month period to January 2006.

Support for job creation and investment in individual counties and regions is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies as part of their responsibility under the Industrial Development Acts. While I may give general policy directives to the agencies, I am precluded under the Industrial Developments Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

I have been assured by the agencies under the remit of my Department that they are endeavouring to attract new investment, encourage the start-up of new businesses, the growth of existing businesses and the development of the labour market in County Mayo.

IDA Ireland, the agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment, is actively marketing and promoting the linked hub towns of Ballina, Castlebar and Westport for new green-field investment. The agency is at an advanced stage in the acquisition of 27 acres of land on the Sligo Road in Ballina with a view to developing a high-quality business and technology park.

As part of its regional development role, Enterprise Ireland works with other agencies in the county to develop the business infrastructure. The community enterprise centres operating in the county, which are part-funded through the agency, are designed to assist small new companies in their start-up phase.

The Mayo County Enterprise Board approved a total of 23 projects in 2005 throughout the county, and five of those are in the Ballina area.

FÁS also provides a range of programmes in the area to assist job-seekers to improve their skills and obtain employment.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by these agencies, together with the ongoing commitment by the Government to regional development and the national development plan, will bear fruit in investment and jobs for the people of Ballina and County Mayo.