Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Wexford in the years 1997 to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34571/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 479: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Carlow in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34647/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 481: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Kilkenny in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34649/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 483: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Tipperary in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34651/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Waterford in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34653/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Laois in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34655/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 489: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Offaly in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34657/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Wicklow in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34659/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Mayo in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34661/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 495: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Donegal in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34663/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by IDA Ireland in County Kerry in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34665/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 473, 479, 481, 483, 485, 487, 489, 491, 493, 495 and 497 together.

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. The Forfás Annual Employment Survey records jobs gained and lost in companies supported by the Industrial Development Agencies. Data is compiled on an annualised basis and 2005 is the latest year for which such figures are available. The information sought by the Deputy is respect of each of the years 1997 to 2005 is set out in the following tabular statement.

For a number of years now IDA Ireland has been very successful in marketing Ireland to overseas investors and Ireland continues 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. At the end of 2005 there were over 132,000 people employed in IDA assisted companies. During the period from 1997 to 2005 a total of 19,134 jobs were created in these IDA assisted companies in the counties in question. These include many of the leading companies in information technology and communications, life sciences, international services, engineering and financial services.

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 R&D.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Wexford in the years 1997 to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34572/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Carlow in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34648/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 482: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Kilkenny in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34650/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 484: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Tipperary in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34652/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 486: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Waterford in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34654/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Laois in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34656/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 490: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Offaly in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34658/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Wicklow in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34660/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Mayo in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34662/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 496: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Donegal in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34664/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by Enterprise Ireland in County Kerry in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34666/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 474, 480, 482, 484, 486, 488, 490, 492, 494, 496 and 498 together.

The issue of job creation at county level is a day to day operational matter for Enterprise Ireland (EI). Employment figures are published for the previous year on a cumulative basis at the beginning of the following year, therefore the latest figures available are for 2005. According to the Forfás Employment Survey 2005 the total number of full-time jobs created by Enterprise Ireland client companies in the counties enquired of in the questions, are set out in the following tabular statement. Over the period in question a total of 26,657 jobs were created by EI client companies. A further 1,248 were created by Shannon Development over the same period using powers delegated to them by Enterprise Ireland.

EI's activity is focused on the creation of new jobs through supporting new indigenous companies in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors and, the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies. EI also enhances the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level through the support of research in companies and third level institutions.

Enterprise Ireland has a wide range of supports for start up companies. As part of its strategy, Enterprise Ireland is working more intensively with high potential start-up companies in order to accelerate their growth, help build management capability, provide direct financial support, provide business advice, mentoring and assist the development of exports.

Through its network of 34 international offices, Enterprise Ireland assists companies to create and implement successful strategies for market entry, development and growth. Furthermore, EI's Productivity Improvement Fund supports client companies to adopt advanced technology and focus on skill developments to improve their productivity and competitive position.

At local level the development of Community Enterprise Centres is a crucial part of the drive to create new regional enterprise. In January 2006, I announced the extension of the Enterprise Ireland Community Enterprise Centre Scheme, which will provide €7m in Capital funding in the period 2006-2008. Twenty-four projects were approved under the new scheme.