Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to plans by the IDA to bring potential investors to the north Kerry area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13152/07]

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 marketing of individual areas for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency. While I may give general policy directives to the agency, I am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

The attractiveness of Kerry for inward investment has to be seen within a regional context. In line with the National Spatial Strategy, the locations of emphasis for IDA in Kerry are the linked Hubs of Tralee and Killarney. The Agency promotes the County as part of an integrated region with access to a population of approx.140,000, as well as the expanded population of the Mid-West and South-West regions. Based on the strengths of the region, IDA is particularly targeting the ICT (incl. software), and Globally Traded Business sectors.

A sectoral focus that is built on regional strengths and supported by the third level sector is key to creating 'pull' factors for attracting investment to the region. The Strategic Competitiveness Programme that is operated by IDA is designed to help consolidate and grow client companies existing operations in the region by achieving substantial productivity improvements or the addition of new business functions such as R&D, marketing, logistics management, shared service centres and customer or technical support activities.

At the end of 2006, there were eighteen IDA assisted companies in County Kerry employing 1,785 people in a variety of industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Engineering and Consumer Products.

In addition, IDA Ireland is engaged with the Kerry Employment Action Team and the newly formed inter-agency Expert Group on Kerry to plan for the County's future economic growth. Both groups are focussed on how Kerry can best position itself in the context of the National Spatial Strategy through its response to the National Development Plan.

IDA also works in close cooperation with Shannon Development, in the development of the Kerry Technology Park (KTP). The Park provides state-of-the-art accommodation and facilities for both indigenous industry and foreign investors.

Furthermore, IDA Ireland works with the Institute of Technology, Tralee in developing the skill-sets necessary to attract high value-added employment to the County and to encourage greater interaction with industry on areas of research and development. The Agency also works closely with FÁS to provide guidance in developing the skill-sets needed by those in the workforce.

I am confident that the policies and strategies in place will deliver the best results in terms of investment and jobs for the people of the Region.