Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to support enterprise development in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5634/08]

Micheál 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, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development are responsible for growing indigenous enterprises and attracting and growing foreign direct investment. Shannon Development's role is in the mid-west region, including North Tipperary, includes the provision of tailored property solution for both FDI and indigenous industry. 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 continues to foster job creation in Tipperary, through supporting entrepreneurs 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 level through support of research in companies and third level institutions. According to the Forfás Employment Survey 2006, the number of people employed in Enterprise Ireland companies in Tipperary is 5,498 in approximately 146 companies. In the past year, Enterprise Ireland has approved funding of over €16.8m and made payments of over €4m for client companies in Tipperary to assist them with development projects.

The development of community based enterprise centres is another crucial part of the drive to create new regional enterprise. Enterprise Ireland has assisted the formation of Community Enterprise Centres in Clonmel, Carick-on-Suir, and Tipperary Town. A total of €702,547 has been approved by EI for these projects. In addition, €337,000 has been approved for the construction of the North Tipperary Food Enterprise Centre. On 24th January, I launched a revised and simplified Research and Development Grant Scheme which will make €500m available to companies across all sectors. The new scheme will see job creation agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, invest more than €500m which will be used to support R&D and continue to secure jobs in all parts of the country. In addition, on 6th February, I announced details of Enterprise Ireland's €60 million Growth Fund. This fund is geared specifically towards eligible SME clients of Enterprise Ireland. Up to €650,000 is available to support an applicant's business plans that increase their company's productivity and export potential as well as boosting their leadership and management capabilities.

The role of the Tipperary North and South County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to provide support for small businesses with 10 employees or fewer 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 throughout County Tipperary. Since the Boards' inception in 1993, Tipperary North and South CEBs have approved over €10.2 m in grant assistance to 890 clients. This intervention has assisted in the creation of 1,335 jobs in the county. During 2008 both CEBs will continue to support enterprise development in Tipperary through the provision of both direct and indirect assistance and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development at county level.

A central goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of balanced regional development. In addition, the Agency works closely with the educational institutions in the region to ensure that the skill-sets necessary to attract high value-added employment to the County are being developed, and with FÁS to ensure that the needs of industry, in the areas of training and up-skilling, are being met. IDA is also working with Shannon Development in ensuring the availability of suitable property solutions for potential investors throughout the Mid West. The development of Tipperary Technology Park and the Archerstown sites in Thurles are important elements in this strategy.

For IDA Ireland purposes County Tipperary is divided in two, Tipperary North which is part of the Mid West Region and Tipperary South which is part of the South West Region. IDA Ireland Midwest region consists of Counties Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and North Kerry, whereas, South Tipperary is part of the wider South East Region, comprising the counties of Tipperary South, Waterford, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny. The number of people employed in IDA Ireland supported companies in Tipperary is 2,583 in approximately 16 companies.