Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 239: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of meetings she is proposing or has had with the State agencies within her remit since taking office on the Governments commitment to create new employment opportunities; if at such meetings consideration was given to an area (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21240/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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State support for enterprise and job creation is channelled through the industrial development agencies. While I may give general policy directives to the agencies, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings, or from giving preference to one area over others.

The industrial development agencies have a range of strategies, programmes and financial incentives in place to promote economic development that will give rise to sustainable employment throughout the country, including County Kildare.

The strategies and programmes of the development agencies are very much in line with the National Development Plan and the National Spatial Strategy, which have been specifically designed to overcome any impediments that may exist to economic development and job creation across the country as a whole.

Upon taking up office in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I did meet with the Chief Executive Officers of the industrial development agencies who gave me a general briefing on the work of the agencies. Meetings are held on a regular basis between the C.E.Os of the development agencies and the Minister of the day to discuss the implementation of Government policy.