Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new foreign companies and jobs brought by the IDA to the mid-west in 2006; the breakdown by county and company location of where the jobs will be; the number of visits by potential foreign investors organised by the IDA to the region; the breakdown of the sites the potential investors visited; and his views on the outlook for foreign direct investment opportunities in 2007 in the mid-west. [43370/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through the industrial development agencies. IDA Ireland has statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to the Mid-West, except for the Shannon Free Zone, which falls within the remit of Shannon Development.

While IDA Ireland is actively marketing all areas within their remit, including the Mid-West, for new investment projects and jobs, decisions regarding where to locate, including what areas to visit as potential locations are ultimately taken by investors. IDA Ireland inform me that they hosted 23 site visits to County Limerick, 5 site visits to County Clare and 2 site visits to North Kerry this year. So far this year IDA Ireland hosted no site visits to North Tipperary.

While agreements entered into between IDA Ireland and individual investors are confidential by nature and not always announced, the following announcements were made in 2006:

In March 2006 Vistakon announced it is to invest over €100 million in its Limerick Manufacturing facility. This development is part of Vistakon's aggressive growth strategy to capitalise on the global contact lens market's huge potential.

In September 2006 Northern Trust announced its decision to locate its second fund administration centre in Limerick, which lead to the creation of over 300 jobs. In addition R&D expenditure of over €10m has been committed in four separate projects during 2006 in Limerick.

The Forfás Annual Employment Survey records jobs gained and lost in companies supported by the industrial development agencies. Data are compiled on an annualised basis and data for 2006 will not be available until mid-2007. The following table provide details of the number of IDA supported companies, total employment in these companies and jobs gained and lost in each of the Mid-West counties for 2005.

IDA Ireland advise me that the Mid-West has excellent prospects in terms of attracting additional foreign direct investment in 2007 and beyond. In particular, IDA Ireland believe there is very significant scope for the region to grow as a centre of excellence in research and development activity. The IDA, through its partnership with University of Limerick (UL) and the various Institutes of Technology throughout the region, is strongly promoting this concept. In addition, UL in collaboration with Science Foundation Ireland in appointing world-renowned researchers has greatly added to the reputation and attraction of the region as a centre for research and development.

I am confident that the strategies being pursued by IDA Ireland will continue to bear fruit in terms of additional investment and jobs for the people of the Mid-West.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new foreign companies and jobs brought by Shannon Development in 2006; the number of visits by potential foreign investors organised by Shannon Development to the region; the breakdown of the sites the potential investors visited; and his views on the outlook for foreign direct investment opportunities in 2007 in the Shannon free zone. [43371/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Shannon Development is responsible for promoting foreign direct investment in the Shannon Free Zone. In 2006, Shannon Development hosted 11 first time itineraries to the Shannon Free Zone on behalf of companies. 20 new enquiries have been handled by Shannon Development in the course of the year to date. These inquiries are at various stages of progression. By year end, investment proposals on behalf of three new companies seeking to establish operations at the Shannon Free Zone will have been considered by Shannon Development.

In 2006, two sizable company expansions, Halifax Ireland and Sykes International, and one sizable new operation, Digital River Ireland, were announced for the Shannon Free Zone, amounting to a total job creation potential of 635 jobs over the next five years.

Shannon Development is confident that it will continue to secure significant new foreign direct investment projects for the Shannon Free Zone in the future.