Written answers

Wednesday, 30 January 2008

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Industrial Development

8:00 pm

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 639: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of out of State companies that located in County Kerry and County Cork respectively, between January 2002 and December 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1529/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas, including Cork and Kerry, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency. While I may give general policy directives to the Agency, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

I am informed by the Agency that in the period January 2002 to December 2007 a total of 30 IDA supported companies set up in County Cork, while 1 IDA supported company set up in Kerry. The numbers of start–ups in each county in each of the years in question are shown in the tabular statement.

The South West, comprising counties Cork and Kerry, is one of Ireland's most prosperous regions. Cork has been designated as a Gateway city under the National Spatial Strategy, while Tralee, Killarney and Mallow have been designated as hubs in the region. The importance of FDI employment in the South West is evidenced by a payroll cost of over €920 million in 2006 for the almost 22,000 permanent employees in 150 companies. In the same year, it is estimated that Irish materials and services purchased by FDI companies in the South West amounted to almost €1.5 billion.

In addition to attracting new foreign direct investment to the area IDA continues to work closely with its existing clients to encourage them to expand their operations. I am satisfied that the policies being pursued by the Agency together with the roll out of the National Development Plan will continue to bear fruit in terms of investment for the people of the region.

Table showing the number of IDA supported companies that set up in Counties Cork and Kerry in each of the years 2002 to 2007.
YearCorkKerry
200280
200361
200460
200530
200640
200730

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