Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I understand from IDA Ireland that Boston Scientific recently announced a head count and expense reduction plan which is part of the company's overall plan to bring expenses in line with revenues and restore competitiveness.

The company confirmed that the vast majority of the cuts announced will be in non-manufacturing jobs in the United States. The process of deciding the exact rationalisation plans in each Boston Scientific plant worldwide has only just commenced.

Donegal is a key target location for IDA and the County is now competing for a different type of business to labour intensive manufacturing, on which it relied so heavily in the past. Investors are, in the main, seeking a large urban base with third level education facilities, well developed infrastructure as well as top quality business services that are international in focus. In line with this, IDA Ireland has adopted a focused approach in the County with Letterkenny as the main location for IDA development efforts.

The IDA strategy fits with the National Spatial Strategy, which sets out a framework for use in planning and investment in the public and private sectors. The Strategy seeks to enhance the performance of strategically placed 'Gateways', in Donegal's case the linked gateway of Letterkenny and Derry. This Gateway will create the conditions necessary to drive economic growth and will be at the heart of extending balanced regional development to the region.

Progress has been made by IDA in securing new investments from Pacificare, Pramerica, SITA and Abbott Diabetes with approximately 1,200 new jobs being added in the County by overseas firms over the last five years. These companies continue to recruit and are actively seeking new staff.

I can assure the Deputy that enterprise development in County Donegal is, and will remain, a priority for the State development agencies under the auspices of my Department.