Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since my initial appointment as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in September 2004, I have had many meetings and briefings with and from the IDA as well as Enterprise Ireland, FÁS and the County Enterprise Board. I have also visited County Donegal on a number of occasions since my initial appointment and met with local business and representative organisations in towns and villages such as Letterkenny, Buncrana, Moville, Donegal, Ballybofey and Stranorlar, Lifford, Killybegs and Ballyshannon.

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.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 305: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created by the IDA, by location in County Louth for each year since 2000 to date in 2007; the investment in each case; the jobs lost by location for each such year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26221/07]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 306: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits made by IDA clients by location in County Louth for each year since 2000 to date in 2007 for the purpose of job creation; the priority allocated by the IDA to each such area; the land bank held in each area; the cost of same; if the land bank has been serviced the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26222/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together.

The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matters for the agency and not a matter in which I have a function.

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. 2006 is the latest year for which such figures are available. The number of jobs created and lost in IDA supported companies in County Louth in each of the years from 2000 to 2006 is set out in the tabular statement below.

The Forfás Annual Employment Survey of 2006 also reveals that County Louth has the largest concentration of IDA supported companies with 2,060 permanent employees in 19 companies. In relation to data on investment, IDA can only provide this data on projects announced, providing the data has been disclosed by the company.

I have been informed by IDA Ireland that, in the period from the beginning of 2000 to date in 2007, a total of 224 site visits have been paid by potential clients to towns in County Louth. Details of these site visits are set out in the tabular statement below.

I have also been informed that IDA Ireland owns a total of 204.16 hectares of land in County Louth (including the Drogheda Business and Technology Park.). Details of the location of these parks are set out in the tabular statement below. The historic cost of the acquisition of these lands was €16,738,682. The lands have been serviced at a cost of €23,768,183.

IDA Ireland is actively marketing County Louth for new inward investment and, in line with the National Spatial Strategy, the gateway town of Dundalk has been designated a primary development centre. Dundalk is being targeted by IDA for new investment in the pharmaceutical ICT, Financial Services and Internationally Traded Services sectors.

In March 2006 IDA Ireland completed a five million euro development at Finnabair Business Park in Dundalk. In addition the Agency has developed a major land bank at Mullagharlin to the south of the town. This extends to approximately 60 hectares in two parcels of 44 hectares and 16 hectares respectively and is particularly targeted at Bio Pharma type activities, for which the town is being actively marketed. A €10m investment programme is under way to develop the sites at Mullagharlin. This includes the connection of the sites to the M1. The contract will be completed by end of 2007.