Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs at present provided by IDA supported factories in each of the Border counties of Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38713/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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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.

At the end of 2005 there were 7 IDA supported companies employing 1, 069 people in Cavan and 6 companies employing 290 people in Monaghan. IDA Ireland believes that the vigorous pursuit of its main policy objectives is the best response to the current challenging environment of increasing opportunities for employment both within its own portfolio but also across the wider economy. The key features of this approach are as follows:

Continuing investment promotion activities to generate new flows of FDI into Ireland

Working closely with foreign owned companies already located in Ireland to identify new investment opportunities

Helping to maintain and augment the competitiveness of client companies to enhance their capacity for investment and direct and indirect employment creation.

I am confident that the strategies being pursued by IDA Ireland will continue to deliver for Ireland, including the people of Cavan and Monaghan, new and expansion FDI projects.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits the IDA or Enterprise Ireland has organised to each of counties Monaghan and Cavan in each of the past five years; if he has satisfied himself that sufficient effort is being made to get inward investment of hi-tech jobs to this border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38714/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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IDA Ireland is the Agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland while Enterprise Ireland is responsible for the development of indigenous industry with export potential. As part of its statutory responsibilities IDA Ireland maintains a property portfolio to assist in the marketing of individual areas and regions to both overseas investors and Enterprise Ireland clients.

As itineraries for site visits relate to mobile investments, normally from overseas, and the EI portfolio of indigenous client companies is of its nature not very mobile, the number of site visits arranged by Enterprise Ireland only relates to a small number of companies. Any such visits are primarily for natural resources companies, taking into account their special location requirements such as access to raw materials and to facilities.

Where an Irish company is interested in relocating an expansion to another part of the country, the Enterprise Ireland Office in that Region will assist in providing information on premises and services available locally, or contact details for other information sources in the Region.

So far this year the IDA has hosted five site visits to Cavan and one to Monaghan. The following table provides details the number of site visits to Counties Cavan and Monaghan from 2002 to 2006. Site Visits are only one indicator of IDA's marketing effort of the Counties. In this respect the Agency continues to actively market Cavan & Monaghan for Foreign Direct Investment through presentations to potential clients by its Projects Division and Overseas Marketing Executives Internationally.

IDA Ireland is continuing to actively market the vacant 23,000 sq ft Advanced Technology Building (23,000 sq ft) on its recently upgraded and fully serviced Business Park in Cavan (c 40 acres), for new inward investment or qualifying indigenous industry. In addition IDA Ireland are promoting two other sites with full planning permission for new 25,000 sq ft Advanced Technology buildings and fully serviced sites of 10 to 15 acre for new Greenfield investments.

To date this year there has been a significant increase in the number of overseas projects which have included Cavan on their itineraries, which is encouraging. Ultimately decisions regarding where to locate, including where to visit as a potential location are taken by investors.

IDA's Regional Strategy has been to adopt a focused approach to marketing, selecting specific towns in each Region and setting targets for new investment. This year, for example, IDA is working to secure a new investment in the medical devices area for Cavan town as it believes the existing 23,745 sq ft facility on its Cavan Business Park is particularly suited to that sector and that, in addition, the sector will not compete with existing businesses in the town for potential employees.

I understand this approach has been very successful in other towns in the region such as Dundalk and Drogheda where there have been some significant investments secured over the last twelve months.