Written answers

Wednesday, 28 November 2007

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Industrial Development

8:00 pm

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies located in Ennis and in County Clare excluding the Shannon Free Zone for the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and the first six months of 2007; the number of employees in these companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29767/07]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Employment data in respect of companies supported by the Enterprise Agencies is collated by Forfás on a countywide annual basis only and accordingly data is not available for 2007. Responsibility for indigenous enterprise transferred from Shannon Development to Enterprise Ireland in Jan 2007. Data provided by the latter agency indicates that the number of companies in County Clare that transferred from Shannon Development consists of 126 in total (all of which are external to the Shannon Free Zone). The attached table sets out the position in relation to companies and employment in enterprise agency assisted firms in Co. Clare excluding the Shannon Free Zone for the past 3 years

The Government is committed to achieving balanced regional development and a key regional objective included in the NDP is to support the creation of conditions necessary to extend the process of employment and productivity growth in higher value added functions to all regions. The State Development agencies, in partnership with other key players, actively seek to provide high value employment opportunities in County Clare. Clearly the strategies set out in the National Development Plan will play a crucial role in maintaining the attractiveness of the regions as investment locations.

As part of an integrated mid-West strategy, IDA Ireland is actively promoting County Clare for foreign direct investment in line with its objective to pursue balanced regional development. Clare has a strong base of foreign direct investment jobs, with the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors representing 85% of IDA supported employment in the county. The agency's strategy for the region involves a transition to the knowledge economy by winning new foreign direct investment in innovation driven, high value sectors and working with its existing company base to expand their presence in Ireland by the addition of increased functions of scale and increased strategic functions.

Ennis is designated as a hub town in the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) and is a priority location for IDA with 6 of the 9 companies supported by the agency in the county based in Ennis. Towards that end the development of Ennis Information Age Park has become an integral part of the Agency's international marketing programme and will be pivotal in attracting new investors.

Vital for any shift to a more knowledge based economy, is the development of the skill sets necessary to attract such high value added employment particularly, R&D, corporate services, shared services, supply chain management treasury management etc. The enterprise agencies' partnership with educational institutions in the region, in particular UL, LIT, NUIG and GMIT, is therefore a key part of their strategy for the region.

In terms of job creation, Enterprise Ireland activity is focussed on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs in manufacturing and internationally traded services companies who are 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 levels through supporting research in companies and third level institutions.

Among the firms supported by Enterprise Ireland in the County are Data Display in Ennistymon — one of the largest indigenous employers in the County employing 140 people. Other significant employers include Vitolograph, based in Ennis and employing 72 people, the company develops and manufactures products for the health care sector mainly for export markets. Shannon Showcase also based in Ennis is a relatively young company first established in 2000, employing 56 people which operates as an International relationship marketing company and AJ Precision a plastic injection moulding operation based in Tuamgraney employing 41 people. Smithstown Industrial Estate near Shannon Airport is the location of a significant cluster of Irish owned manufacturing companies.

Enterprise Ireland supports Community Enterprise Centres in Ennistymon and Kilkee and is currently in discussion with a group from Kilrush. This is a unique partnership between local communities and Enterprise Ireland that provides essential support for entrepreneurship in urban and rural areas. Earlier this year I announced a new Community Enterprise Centre scheme to be managed by Enterprise Ireland. Funding will be targeted at those communities where job losses have been most acute and there is an evident need for this type of initiative.

Enterprise Agencies Assisted Companies and Jobs in Co. Clare (excluding Shannon Free-zone)
200420052006
CompaniesPermanent JobsCompaniesPermanent JobsCompaniesPermanent Jobs
IDA Ireland992991,02491,004
Enterprise Ireland718561897197
EI (formerly Shannon Development)1261,6211211,6121261,674
Totals1422,7351362,8251422,678

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