Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 82: 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 in 11% which is twice the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32070/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the County Development Boards. While I may give general policy directives to the agencies under the Industrial Development Acts, I am precluded from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

IDA Ireland have assured me they are actively promoting both Ballina and the North Mayo area generally for new foreign investment. Since January 2003 there have been five first time site visits to Ballina. In addition, the Agency is also working with its existing base of overseas companies to encourage them to grow and expand. In order to further enhance the attractiveness of the county for new investment the Agency is developing new world class Business and Technology Parks in a number of towns throughout Mayo.

The overall aim of Enterprise Ireland's strategy is to transform Irish companies into market focused and innovation driven businesses; to increase their exports, sales and employment. The Agency has approved funding support of over €6.4 million and paid around €3.6 million to companies in County Mayo in the period from 2003 to date. Of this, client companies in the North Mayo area have been approved funding of over €1.2m. Enterprise Ireland has worked in close co-operation with Mayo County Council in the development of the Broadband Metropolitan Area Networks in Ballina and Kiltimagh. Both of these are now completed. The construction of new MANs, are proposed for the towns of Claremorris, Knock and Ballinrobe.

In January this year I announced the extension of the Enterprise Ireland Community Enterprise Centre Scheme which will provide €7m of Capital funding for the period 2006-2008. Working in partnership with the local community, Enterprise Ireland has approved support for a total of 10 Community Enterprise Centres in County Mayo — including Kiltimagh, which was successful in obtaining approval for €300,000 for an expansion to its existing centre.

During 2005 Mayo County Enterprise Board (CEB) approved a total of €437,965 to 23 projects and paid out €301,239 in grant assistance, which resulted in the creation of 53 net new jobs in CEB assisted companies throughout the County. Five of the 23 projects which received grant approval in 2005 were in the Ballina area and accounted for €82,400 or 19% of the total grant approvals in Mayo in 2005 and, to-date, a total of €28,579 has been paid out by Mayo CEB.

Mayo County Enterprise Boards 2006 Programme budget is, at over €900,000, 12.9% higher than allocation provided for in 2005. This increase is enabling Mayo CEB to fulfil its function and remit in encouraging entrepreneurial development in the micro-enterprise sector throughout the County.

The most recent Quarterly National Household Survey published by the Central Statistics Office in September shows that the national unemployment rate is 4.3%. The equivalent rate for the West region, which includes Ballina, is slightly lower at 4.2%. The Survey does not provide a breakdown of data for specific towns.

While the Live Register figures published by the CSO provide data for specific areas such as Ballina, it is important to note that it is designed to produce data on numbers claiming unemployment assistance and benefit and also includes part-time, seasonal and casual workers who would be entitled to such State supports. In August 2005 there were 1,605 people on the live register in Ballina. The most recent data available is for August 2006 and indicates that this number had fallen to 1,448.

I am satisfied that the policies being pursued by the agencies under the remit of my Department, together with the Government's commitment to regional development, will continue to bear fruit in terms of the creation of sustainable employment for the people of Ballina and Mayo generally.