Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress to date in the provision of employment in the North Tipperary area by location for each year since 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27524/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of job creation in North Tipperary is a day-to-day issue for the enterprise development agencies of my Department, namely IDA Ireland, Shannon Development and the North Tipperary County Enterprise Board and is one in which I have no direct function.

IDA Midwest region consists of Counties Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and North Kerry. The attractiveness of North Tipperary for inward investment has to be seen within a regional context, and particularly by reference to Shannon airport, its proximity to Limerick and Cork and to its location along the corridors of Limerick/Dublin and Cork/Dublin. The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) provides a framework for the achievement of this goal. IDA Ireland's regional strategy reflects the NSS, with an emphasis on the gateway and hub locations. In addition IDA actively promotes the County town of Thurles. IDA is committed to the development of North Tipperary and is actively promoting the County for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), as part of an integrated Mid West region. IDA has six supported companies in North Tipperary, employing 717 in December 2005.

In moving North Tipperary to a more knowledge based economy, IDA Ireland is partnering with educational institutions in the region, in particular University of Limerick, Limerick Institute of Technology and Tipperary Institute, in developing the skill sets necessary to attract high value added employment particularly in added value activities, such as R&D, corporate services, shared services, supply chain management, treasury management, etc.

Both IDA Ireland and Shannon Development are members of the Thurles Marketing Group which was established in 2002 with a view to developing a pilot marketing initiative in North Tipperary as part of the implementation of the County Economic and Cultural Strategy 2002-2012. The focus of the marketing initiative is "to promote Thurles as a location for business investment".

Initiatives undertaken by Shannon Development include the development of the Tipperary Technology Park in Thurles, one of a network of five such Parks in the region. There are currently four businesses operating out of the Park in areas such as Software Development, Marketing, IT and Health & Safety. Shannon Development and North Tipperary Enterprise Board also operate offices in the Park. Three further companies occupy the larger expansion spaces on the park. From a base of zero in 2002 there are currently over 80 people employed on site across 8 companies. In addition Shannon Development continues to support the existing industrial base in Thurles.

Shannon Development has a 51 acre Business Park in Lisboney, Nenagh and the Company is marketing this as an attractive investment location and demand for sites is buoyant. The private sector is also responding to the increasing demand and currently a 30,000 sq.ft. Advanced Technology Unit is under construction at Stereame, Nenagh. This development was promoted and encouraged by Shannon Development and was supported under the BES scheme. This facility (due for completion this month) will add to the attractiveness of the town as an investment location.

The Company is also working to ensure that North Tipperary has a world-class telecommunications infrastructure. This initiative is promoted by Shannon Broadband, a Shannon Development initiative established in partnership with the Local Authorities in the region.

Tipperary North County Enterprise Board (CEB) was set up in 1993 as a source of support for the micro-businesses sector. The role of the Board is to develop indigenous enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and an enterprise culture in North Tipperary. This is done through both direct financial assistance and non-financial assistance. Subject to certain eligibility criteria enterprises may qualify for support in the form of feasibility, employment and capital grants while there is also a broad range of non-financial supports available such as mentoring, business advice and management development and training. While such non-financial supports may not directly generate jobs in an enterprise they contribute positively to the wider objective of building an enterprise culture which, in time, can result in job creation without direct financial assistance from the State. Employment in the enterprise development agencies in North Tipperary for each year since 2002 is set out in the following table. IDA Ireland and Tipperary North County Enterprise Board do not break down employment figures by location.