Written answers

Thursday, 7 February 2008

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Industrial Development

5:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to support enterprise development in the midland and western regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35099/07]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Enterprise Development Agencies under the aegis of my Department, Enterprise Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards, and IDA Ireland are responsible for growing indigenous enterprises and attracting and growing foreign direct investment. My Department has put in place a range of strategies, programmes and financial incentives to promote economic and enterprise development that will support sustainable employment throughout the country.

Enterprise Ireland (EI) recently launched their new strategy, 'Transforming Irish Industry 2008-2010', which focuses on facilitating entrepreneurship and the enterprise environment in local and rural communities; driving the creation of innovation based start-ups, actively engaging in the Community Enterprise Scheme and proactively developing existing clients in all regions.

Enterprise Ireland works with almost 490 client companies in the West Region employing 11,578 people and over 300 companies in the Midlands employing over 8,700 people.

EI has approved support for Community Enterprise Centres in 30 locations approximately in the West & Midlands Regions, which is helping to provide much needed workspace for the creation of new projects and businesses.

In addition, I am informed that two community enterprise centres in the West & Midlands Regions were successful in their bid for funding under the Community Enterprise Scheme, Roscommon IT & Knowledge Centre Ltd was approved for €300,000 and OAK Partnership, Edenderry, was approved for €532,000. Support is available for both capital infrastructure and management support.

The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) in the midland and western regions provide a source of support to small businesses with 10 employees or fewer. Subject to certain eligibility criteria new and developing enterprises may qualify for financial and non-financial support. During 2007 the Midland Region CEBs, comprising Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly paid out over €1.48m in grant assistance to 109 clients. This intervention has assisted in the creation of 236 jobs in the region. The CEBs in the Western Region, comprising Galway, Mayo and Roscommon have paid out over €1.11m in grant assistance to 104 clients, which in turn, has enabled the creation of 328 jobs in the area.

A central goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of balanced regional development. The National Spatial Strategy provides a framework for achievement of this goal through the prioritisation of development and investment in the gateway and hub locations such as Galway, Limerick, Shannon, Athlone, Tuam and Mullingar. On this basis, IDA Ireland seeks to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the gateways and hubs as well as a small number of additional locations in these regions. In the West, IDA is working with key overseas companies such as Medtronics, Boston Scientific and Baxter Healthcare. In the Midlands, some of the agency's clients include Tyco Healthcare, Elan and Abbot Laboratories.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by the development agencies under the remit of my department will continue to bear fruit in terms of a regional development throughout the country.

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