Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to address the need to attract high tech, high value jobs in Inishowen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4712/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Donegal is a target location for the IDA with the County now competing for a different type of business to labour intensive manufacturing, which IDA so successfully won over the past four decades. The overseas investor is now seeking locations for more advanced manufacturing or office based solutions, to a great extent depending on high skill and high value work. This has required a significant change of strategy by the IDA with a focus on a limited number of key locations nationally. In line with this strategy, IDA Ireland has adopted a focused approach in the County with the choice of Letterkenny as the main location for development efforts. Notwithstanding that, should an overseas company wish to consider Buncrana or any other Inishowen location for new investment or expansion, IDA Ireland would be willing to assist in whatever way possible. The decision by Seatem/Keith Prowse in 2002 to set up a customer support centre in IDA Ireland's Industrial Estate in Buncrana is an example of this.

As regards Enterprise Ireland, it provides a wide range of supports for high potential start up companies including, financial supports, business and marketing advice, mentoring, product development etc. As part of its infrastructural support for start-up companies, Enterprise Ireland has approved some €3.5m in recent years for developments at Letterkenny Institute of Technology, which is an important aspect of supporting and attracting business to the region. Enterprise Ireland has also been very active in supporting the development of community enterprise centres in the North West Region, which are critical to continued enterprise development in rural areas and to the development of an entrepreneurial culture. Nine Community Enterprise Centres in County Donegal have received funding of approx. €2m under the Community Enterprise Centre Scheme to date, including Carndonagh in 2006 and Moville in 2007.

In 2006, I announced the establishment of a new Enterprise Managed Service centre (EMS) by AssetCo to be based in Buncrana, Co Donegal. Supported by Enterprise Ireland, the project involves an investment of €5.2m and will lead to the creation of 130 new jobs. Enterprise Ireland approved further R & D funding to support R & D activity within AssetCo in 2007. Forward Emphasis International Ltd. based in Malin Head has expanded significantly over the past 2 years with full time employment doubling between the period November 2006 and November 2007. Enterprise Ireland also provided financial support in 2007 for this development. Powerboard (E & I Engineering) was approved as an Enterprise Ireland HPSU in 2005 and this company currently employs around 140 people on a full time basis. In addition to the above, companies in Inishowen were approved a further €326,000 in financial support in 2007. In Inishowen there are currently a total of 26 Enterprise Ireland supported companies.

As regards the Donegal County Enterprise Board, its role 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. In relation to non-financial support, Donegal CEB engages in a range of activities to stimulate enterprise and to support small businesses.

As regards re-training and upskilling, which comes under the remit of FÁS, that agency 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 activities.