Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 244: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her strategy to deliver new sources of employment to County Wexford. [21330/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Support for job creation and investment in individual counties and regions is a day-to-day operational matter for the development agencies as part of their responsibility under the Industrial Development Acts.

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. In line with the National Spatial Strategy, IDA Ireland's strategy for Wexford is to promote the county as part of an integrated South East region and is focusing its efforts in the Hub & county town of Wexford.

IDA Ireland is also actively encouraging new investment in the services and knowledge-based industries and has achieved notable successes in Wexford, evidenced by the existing quality of the companies already located in the county, such as Equifax and PFPC.

IDA is currently developing its 26 hectare Wexford Business and Technology Park as part of a national property development programme to ensure the availability of international standard property solutions for potential investors into the future. IDA also has a further 4.5 hectares available in Wexford at sites in Gorey and Enniscorthy, as a means of continuing to build on the emerging international services and financial services activity in Wexford.

Enterprise Ireland's activity in County Wexford is focussed on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs in manufacturing and internationally traded services companies. Enterprise Ireland activity, in terms of job creation, is focused on the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies, the creation of new jobs by supporting entrepreneurs to set up High Potential Start-Up Companies and also through enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level by supporting research in companies and third level institutions.

Another incentive available is the Enterprise Platform Programme, a one-year rapid incubation programme designed to provide hands-on support and management development for entrepreneurs who wish to start their own business. The Enterprise Start Programme, which was developed by Enterprise Ireland and FÁS to help potential entrepreneurs to develop their new business ideas into business plans. The programme is aimed at individuals with new business ideas in technology or knowledge intensive sectors that are capable of achieving export sales.

The development of community based enterprise centres is a crucial element in the drive to create new regional enterprise. On 19 November 2007, under the first round of this new €21m CEC Competitive Scheme, the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D. announced a €6.74m investment in 22 Community Enterprise Centre projects. In 2007 Enterprise Ireland approved grant aid of €300,000 for an extension to Enniscorthy Community Enterprise Centre.

The Spirit of Enterprise is a regional initiative that aims to bring all the agencies and bodies that have an interest in enterprise promotion in the South East together. There is a regional steering group in place for "Enterprise Week" and at county level there is an organising committee. The committee for county Wexford are currently putting their programme for this year's event in place. It is hoped that through this organized approach that greater dissemination of the message about the importance of entrepreneurship and the range of supports that are in place for new enterprises.

The Wexford County Enterprise Board (CEB), since its inception in 1993 to the end of 2007, has approved over €8.3m in grant assistance to 732 clients. This intervention has made a significant contribution to job creation in Wexford. Throughout 2008 the Wexford CEB will continue to support enterprise development in Wexford through the provision of both direct and indirect assistance and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development at county level.

FÁS offers a range of training courses and services to individuals in County Wexford who are seeking upskilling and employment. The Competency Development Programme, aims to raise the competency level of employees to ensure that the national skills match the national human resource requirements for continuous economic growth and enable employees to cope with frequent and on-going changes in work practices. FÁS are currently running two apprentice electrician courses in the Wexford Training Centre with a total of 26 participants, with additional classes planned to run from July to December this year. Adult training courses in basic computer applications, office skills and engineering multi-skills, are also in the pipeline for the near future.

I am satisfied that the policies being pursued by the agencies under of the aegis of my Department together with the Government's commitment to regional development will continue to bear fruit for the people of Wexford and the South East region as a whole.