Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 963: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions being taken to ensure that the future job creation needs of Tallaght receive special attention, in view of the fact that Tallaght has such a young population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29775/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of job creation is a day-to-day operational matter for the industrial development agencies and relevant County Enterprise Boards, and not one in which I have a direct role. IDA Ireland continues to market South County Dublin, including Tallaght and its environs, as a potential location for new foreign direct investment (FDI), in order to secure new investment and additional jobs for the region.

IDA Ireland's strategy for the Dublin area is to attract and expand major FDI projects, moving up the value chain. South County Dublin is well equipped to compete with other areas for potential foreign direct investment, with superb infrastructural facilities at Citywest and Grangecastle, and a supply of well educated labour from the third level Institute of Technology at Tallaght. Both business parks, and the Institute of Technology are easily accessible to the population of Tallaght.

Companies present in the area such as Wyeth Biopharma and Takeda Pharma Ireland Ltd in the pharmaceuticals sector provide high value employment and act as excellent reference sellers for the area. Planning Permission has recently been approved for an Advance Integrated Circuit Manufacturing and Research facility at Grangecastle. This is the largest planning application to date in the State, and will be an invaluable tool for the future marketing of Grangecastle as a potential source of high quality and large-scale employment for the population of the environs, including Tallaght.

Enterprise Ireland works with companies in its portfolio to assist them to grow their sales and exports and improve innovation in order that they can compete on world markets. The Agency is encouraging companies to adopt new technologies to add value to their products and services. Since the beginning of 2003, Enterprise Ireland has approved over €8.5m and made payments of €7.2m in support of development projects for indigenous companies in South County Dublin.

Enterprise Ireland has provided funding for the development of Community Enterprise Centres in South Dublin such as Brookfield, Bolbrook and Killinarden. These centres provide incubation space for start-ups and also provide ancillary services such as training, mentoring etc., to address the needs of local clients. Enterprise Ireland also supports the development of business incubation workspace as part of its on-going commitment to fostering links between colleges and industry, and has approved funding for the development of incubation space at the Tallaght Institute of Technology. It is anticipated that graduates from the college, or members of research teams based in the college, will be to the forefront in using the centre, and in creating new jobs, particularly in the high tech sectors. The centre is almost finalised and is expected to be in operation in 2007.

In addition, the South Dublin County Enterprise Board (CEB) is proactively involved in the development of indigenous enterprise, and provides a source of support for small businesses in the region. Since its inception, the Board has approved financial assistance of just over €3.4m to businesses based in Tallaght. These grants and other financial supports have resulted in the creation and maintenance of 320 jobs.

South Dublin CEB's 2006 budget allocation stands at over €1.1m, 16.5% higher than the allocation provided to the Board in 2005. This increase enables the South Dublin Board to maximize entrepreneurial development in the micro-enterprise sector throughout the region, including the Tallaght area. South Dublin CEB continues to assist micro-enterprises not just by direct grant aid to businesses and project promoters but also through the provision of a range of other important business supports such as mentoring, business training and business advice all of which help to stimulate indigenous enterprise creation and job creation.