Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1138: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs lost in 2006 in County Mayo; the number of jobs created in Mayo in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3121/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1140: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by the assistance of the IDA in County Mayo in 2006 with a breakdown of the jobs that were lost in County Mayo for the same period; the companies that lost or increased jobs in 2006; and the number of people currently employed in IDA supported factories in County Mayo. [3123/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1138 and 1140 together.

According to figures supplied by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland there were a total of 331 job gains and 240 losses in companies supported by the industrial development agencies in Mayo in 2006. A breakdown of these figures is supplied in the following table. In addition there were 110 net job gains in the micro enterprise sector supported by Mayo County Enterprise Board.

Specifically with regard to IDA Ireland activity in 2006, there were 19 IDA Ireland grant assisted companies employing 2,973 permanent positions and 441 contract positions in County Mayo. Within this period there were 37 new jobs and 122 job losses. As information on job gains and losses at company level is provided on a confidential basis it is not possible to provided details of job gains and losses at company level.

Job creation and job losses are a feature of economic development in all countries as various sectors expand and contract in response to market demand for goods and services, competitive forces, restructuring and technological change. IDA Ireland's current sectoral emphasis for Mayo is on attracting new knowledge intensive projects in the Medical Technologies, Life Sciences, Information Communications and Technology and International Services sectors.

A central goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of balanced regional development. The National Spatial Strategy provides a framework for achievement of this goal through the prioritization of development and investment in the gateway and hub locations. On this basis, IDA Ireland seeks to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the gateway and hubs, as well as a small number of additional locations, throughout the West. In relation to Mayo, the Agency is actively promoting the linked hubs of Ballina and Castlebar for additional overseas investment and jobs.

To enhance the attractiveness of the county for new investment, IDA Ireland is presently developing a 37 acre world class Business & Technology Park in Westport. The Agency has had extensive discussion with Mayo County Council regarding the provision of a new Business & Technology Park on the Sligo Road in Ballina, and has obtained planning permission for the construction of a 2,000 sq metre Advance Technology Building and three office buildings from Mayo County Council for the IDA Business & Technology Park in Castlebar.