Written answers

Thursday, 26 April 2007

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Industrial Development

5:00 pm

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits made by Enterprise Ireland or the IDA to County Kerry in each of 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007; the number of same in which a Minister or Minister of State of his Department participated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15468/07]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In the period from the beginning of January, 2005 to the end of March, 2007, there have been a total of 7 IDA sponsored visits by overseas investors to Kerry. Details of those visits are set out in the following tabular statement. The visits are arranged as part of the day-to-day operational activities of the agency and there was no ministerial involvement. In the main, itineraries for site visits relate to mobile investments, normally from overseas. The Enterprise Ireland portfolio of indigenous companies is not of its nature very mobile, and the Agency reports that there were no such visits to Kerry in the period in question.

IDA Ireland continues to actively promote Kerry as a destination for FDI in line with the framework offered by the National Spatial Strategy with emphasis being placed on the linked Hub locations of Tralee and Killarney. The Agency's strategy for Kerry has been to promote the County as part of a broad integrated region with the North of the County being part of the Mid West Region. Based on the strengths of the region, IDA is particularly targeting the ICT including software), and Globally Traded Business sectors. The attractiveness of Kerry for inward investment has to be seen within a regional context, and particularly with reference to its location regarding the Gateway cities of Limerick/Shannon and Cork. In addition, the Agency continues to work with its existing portfolio of client companies under the auspices of the Strategic Competitiveness Programme, which is designed to help consolidate and grow their existing operations in the region where possible.

Enterprise Ireland's activity is focused on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs setting up new High Potential Start-Up Companies, the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies and in enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level through support of research in companies and third level institutions. The Agency continues to work with companies in its portfolio to assist them grow their sales and exports and improve innovation in order that they can compete on world markets.

Furthermore, Shannon Development has been given a new, more focused, regional economic development remit in the Mid-West region, which includes North Kerry, and its activities complement those of the other national agencies. Among the activities undertaken by the Agency in this regard is the development of the Kerry Technology Park Tralee in cooperation with IDA Ireland, Tralee Institute of Technology, the Local Authority and the private sector. The Park provides state-of-the-art accommodation and facilities for both indigenous industry and foreign investors. I am satisfied that the work of the agencies, together with the roll out of the National Development Plan will continue to bear fruit in terms of additional investment and jobs for the people of Kerry.

Table showing the number of IDA sponsored Site Visits to Kerry in each of the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 (end March)
YearNumber of visits
20054
20062
2007 (end March)1

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