Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the high rate of unemployment in County Wexford compared with other counties; the action he will take to solve the unemployment crisis in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34574/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Unemployment is measured through the Quarterly National Household Survey as published by the Central Statistics Office. The Survey does not provide data on specific towns and is available on a regional basis only. The most recent data, published in September 2006, shows that the unemployment rate for the South-East region, which includes Wexford, stands at 5%, a decrease of 0.6% over the year. The survey shows that there were 13,300 more persons in employment in the South-East region over the same period in the previous year.

I have been assured by the development agencies under the remit of my Department that they are endeavouring to attract new investment to the County, to encourage the start-up of new businesses, to grow existing businesses and to develop all aspects of the labour market.

FÁS, through its Training Centre and Employment Offices, provides a wide range of training and employment measures in Wexford for the unemployed, employers and employees. These include — Placement and Guidance service, Community Employment, Local and Community Training Programmes, Supported Employment Programme, Apprenticeships, Competency Development Programme, Excellence Through People and Management Development.

Support for job creation and investment in individual counties and regions is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies as part of their responsibility under the Industrial Development Acts.

Over the last number of years IDA Ireland has been actively working to attract overseas companies in newer high-value sectors to Wexford. Their efforts have met with considerable success in recent years and two new projects were announced in 2005, PFPC announced a 200 person expansion of their operations in May 2005, while Waters Technology announced a 130 person expansion of their operations in the county.

Enterprise Ireland's activity in County Wexford is focussed on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs in manufacturing and internationally traded services companies who are setting up new High Potential Start-Up Companies, the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies and in enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level. Support is available for research in individual companies and in the third level institutions. The development of community based enterprise centres is a crucial part of the drive to create new regional enterprise. Enterprise Ireland has approved funding of over €1m in support of the development and management of Community Enterprise Centres in County Wexford.

In addition, the Wexford County Enterprise Board, which supports micro industry in the area, approved a total of 32 projects during 2005. Wexford CEB has made a significant contribution to job creation in Wexford. Since its formation in 1993 to the end 2005 the CEB has assisted client companies in the creation of 1,283 net additional jobs throughout the county.

I am satisfied that the policies being pursued by the agencies under of the aegis of my Department together with the Government's commitment to regional development will continue to bear fruit for the people of Wexford and the South East as a whole.