Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 318: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the strategy the Government have in relation to job creation and re-training in the Border counties, specifically in County Donegal; if Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Údarás na Gaeltachta have a unified approach to same; the amount of jobs envisaged in the future; and the time-frame for their creation. [29631/07]

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

Despite past difficulties in County Donegal, due to the demise of traditional industries such as agriculture, fishing and textiles, there is clear evidence that the county is successfully engaged in a transition to the new economy. Live register figures at 8,340 and 8,370 for September 2006 and 2007 respectively, are lower then any year going back to 1993. The Interdepartmental Group Report on Donegal, which I launched last year, identified the various infrastructure developments required to support enterprise development in the County. The report noted, not just that much progress had been made, but also that there were financial provisions available to complete major infrastructure projects, including new roads, to equip Donegal further as an attractive location for enterprise development.

The State development agencies under the auspices of my Department, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the County Development Board and FÁS, as well as Údarás na Gaeltachta cooperate and liaise on an ongoing basis with a view to supporting the creation and maintenance of jobs in County Donegal.

Donegal is a key target location for IDA with the County now competing for a different type of business to the labour intensive manufacturing, on which it relied successfully in the past. Progress has been made in securing new high value 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.

With regard to Enterprise Ireland input, during the years 2004 to 2006, a total of 1,156 jobs were created in Enterprise Ireland client companies in County Donegal as against job losses of 980 leaving a net gain of 176 jobs. Since the beginning of 2004 Enterprise Ireland approved over €15m in support to its client companies in Co. Donegal and made payments of over €7.5m. Evidence of continued support for enterprise development can be seen from my announcement on 19 November that Enterprise Ireland is to provide €0.65m in support of a new Community Enterprise Centre in Ballybofey and Stranorlar, as well as an expansion of the North East Inishowen Tourist Development company in Moville.

In addition to the foregoing, the role of the Donegal County Enterprise Board, funded by my Department, is to provide support to micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. Through the provision of both financial and non-financial support the Board supports individuals, firms and community groups provided that the proposed projects have the capacity to achieve commercial viability. Financial support is available in the form of Capital Grants, Employment Grants and Feasibility Study grants. From the Board's inception in 1993 to-date they have paid out over €6.7m in grant assistance to over 300 clients, which has assisted in the creation of 1,385 jobs.

As regards re-training, which comes under the remit of FÁS, FÁS liaises on an ongoing basis with other State development agencies and industry in order to identify and meet the needs of workers. FÁS has provided many tailored and specific programmes to meet the needs of workers in County Donegal, particularly in the context of the changing nature of employment as the County transitions from traditional industries to new knowledge based sectors.

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