Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created in Laois and Offaly in the enterprise sector during the years 2000 to 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28097/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through the industrial development agencies. Both EI and IDA are actively promoting and encouraging new investments and jobs for Counties Laois and Offaly and are also working with existing clients in the county with a view to helping them expand and or move their activities up the value chain. In the period from 2000 to 2005 agency-assisted firms created a total of 2,883 new full time jobs in Counties Laois (735) and Offaly (2048). In addition the County Enterprise Boards have created a total of 449 jobs in Laois and 421 in Offaly over the same period.

IDA Midlands Region consists of Counties Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath and Roscommon. The locations of emphasis for IDA in these counties are the NSS Gateway Towns of Athlone, Tullamore, and Mullingar. In addition IDA actively promotes the County towns of Portlaoise, Longford and Roscommon. IDA Ireland's Strategy for the Midlands Region is:

∙To progress the development of a knowledge economy, in order that the Region can compete both nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment.

∙To work with the existing client base in the Counties and to expand their presence in the various Counties;

∙To provide modern property solutions with supporting infrastructure;

∙To work with Local Authorities and relevant infrastructure providers to influence the delivery of appropriate infrastructure to the various Counties.

IDA Ireland is working closely with educational institutions in the Region, in developing the skill sets necessary to attract high value added employment. IDA is also working with FÁS to provide guidance in developing the skill sets needed by those already in the workforce who are interested in upskilling.

Enterprise Ireland has a wide range of supports for start up companies. As part of its strategy launched in May 2005, Enterprise Ireland is working more intensively with High Potential Start-ups (HPSUs) at their initial start up phase in order to accelerate their growth, help build management capability, provide direct financial support, provide business advice and mentoring and assist HPSUs through its overseas network to develop their exports.

Community Enterprise Centres provide a much needed business infrastructure and incentive for small new company start-ups in disadvantaged areas. Working in partnership with the local community, Enterprise Ireland has approved over €469,000 in support of the development of Laois based Community Enterprise Centres. This includes capital support of over €400,000 towards the Mountmellick Development Centre for Phase One, which is completed and fully occupied, and for Phase Two on which construction commenced in May 2005 and is expected to be completed shortly.

In January 2006, I was pleased to announce the extension of the Enterprise Ireland Community Enterprise Centre Scheme, which will provide €7m of Capital funding in the period 2006-2008. Under this competitive scheme, Portarlington Enterprise Centre was approved €400,000 for an expansion to its existing centre. This first phase of this Centre is fully occupied.

The South West area of Offaly comes within the remit of Shannon Development which has provided Capital support towards the development of Community Enterprise Centres in Ferbane and Kilcormac. The company is also involved with Local Authorities in the Region, in working to ensure the development of world-class telecommunications infrastructure in the region including Broadband facilities. Broadband area networks have been approved for Nenagh, Roscrea/Birr, Templemore and Banagher. Shannon Development Company is an active member of a broad based marketing initiative — "Invest in Offaly" which actively promotes the attractiveness of the agency owned Birr Technology Centre and the wider South West Offaly area to potential investors.

The County Enterprise Boards (CEB) provide a source of support in these counties for small businesses with 10 employees or fewer, providing a single point of contact at local level for new and established small businesses. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, enterprises may qualify for support from the CEBs primarily in the form of capital and feasibility grants. The development of entrepreneurship in Laois and Offaly is being achieved not just by direct grant aid to businesses but also through the provision of a range of other important business supports such as mentoring, business training and business advice.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by the Development Agencies in Laois and Offaly, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development will bear fruit in terms of additional sustainable investment and jobs for the people of these counties.