Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 1103: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA assisted companies in Clare and in Ennis; the number of employees in these companies; the number of employees in these companies in January 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1024/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are clients of the industrial development agencies. Information is aggregated at county level. In 2005, the latest year for which such figures are available, the Survey records that there were nine IDA client companies located in Clare, six of which were located in the town of Ennis. In total there were 1,024 people employed in these client companies in 2005.

In Clare, Ennis is designated as a Hub town under the National Spatial Strategy and is a priority location for IDA. IDA has assured me they are committed to the development of Clare and are actively promoting the County for additional Foreign Direct Investment as part of an integrated Mid-West region consisting of Counties Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and North Kerry.

IDA's strategy for the Mid-West region involves:

Winning new FDI in innovation driven, high value, high skills sectors

Working with their existing client base to expand their presence in Ireland by the addition of increased functions of scale and increased strategic functions

Pursuing balanced regional development

Ongoing influence of tailored property solutions and the supporting infrastructure to meets the needs of inward investors.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland in Clare and in the Mid-West region generally are appropriate in terms of maximizing sustainable investment and jobs.