Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied that the extent of inward investment is sufficient to maintain job creation requirements in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32373/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Each of the enterprise development agencies, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Boards has a role to play in the promotion of investment and job creation in the country.

For a number of years now IDA Ireland has been very successful in marketing Ireland to overseas investors and we continue to win a disproportionately high share of mobile global investments. The level of FDI in Ireland, relative to the size of the economy, is one of the highest in the world. Today, over 1,000 overseas companies have substantial international operations in Ireland. These include many of the leading companies in information technology and communications, life sciences, international services, engineering and financial services.

At the end of 2005 there were over 132,000 people employed IDA assisted companies. The challenge for IDA Ireland is to sustain, embed and grow this investment. In responding to this challenge, IDA Ireland is focusing on the development of its employment base into high technology, high value added and high skill functions, including not only high-end manufacturing, but also areas such as high-end services and research and development.

Ireland has re-invented its attractions for inward investment over the past seven years, recognising changes in global conditions and in our own circumstances. Now Ireland is distinguished by the quality of our national capabilities as much as by the efficiency of our performance. Investors comment on the nimbleness and coherence with which change is achieved in Ireland, and we have a global reputation as a location for advanced manufacturing, sophisticated business services and, increasingly, for leading research and innovation. Each of these areas will be of critical importance to our continuing success.

In order to support this success in attracting high quality FDI IDA Ireland has adopted a series of interlinked programmes of work, addressing issues such as competitiveness, the development of niche markets where we can be world leaders and networking with third level and research institutions.

Obviously, we can not rely solely on inward investment in terms of future job creation requirements. Indeed, the indigenous sector is very important in this regard. Enterprise Ireland supported companies made a significant contribution to the Irish economy in 2005, spending over €16 billion on payroll and Irish sourced goods and service and achieved €1.275 billion in new international exports in that year. Enterprise Ireland's work in assisting indigenous companies to grow and compete in international markets will remain a key focus of our enterprise development policy.

The thirty-five City and County Enterprise Boards approved a total of €12.5m in grant aid to micro-enterprise businesses in respect of nearly 1,000 projects during 2005. Over 30,000 net jobs have been created in CEB assisted enterprises from 1993 to end 2005. Some 2,000 net new jobs were created and over 17,000 people participated on CEB training programmes throughout 2005. These management development and training programmes can contribute indirectly to an overall strong national economic performance by providing entrepreneurs with the skills to develop the growth potential and competitiveness of their individual enterprises.

I am satisfied that the policies and strategies being pursued by the enterprise development agencies are the most appropriate ones to attract and grow investment in the country and that these will, in turn, help to grow quality employment into the future.