Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 324: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created in County Louth for each year since 2002 to date in 2008 by organisation and location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29116/08]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 326: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs lost in County Louth for each year since 2002 to date in 2008 by organisation and location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29118/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 326 together.

The following tables set out the number of full time job gains and losses in enterprise agency assisted firms in Co. Louth for each of the years between 2002 and 2007. (Agency data is collected on a county and annual basis and therefore no data is available for 2008). Overall in the period in question 3,216 new full-time jobs were created while job losses amounted to 4,094. While any factory closures and job losses are to be regretted they must be viewed in the context of an historically unprecedented period of job creation of well over half a million since 1997. From 2002 to 2007 the County Enterprise Board has assisted in the creation of over 490 net jobs throughout the county.

Key to the Enterprise Development Agencies' Strategies for the Louth area is to progress the development of a knowledge-based economy, so that the region can compete both nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment and the development of indigenous companies. As part of the process of developing the capabilities of the region, the agencies work very closely with local interests. They also maintain a close relationship with FÁS so that the requirements of industry particularly in the areas of training and up-skilling are being met.

In line with this overall policy and their own North East Regional Strategy, Enterprise Ireland's aim of fostering closer links between local educational institutions and industry, led the agency to provide funding to the Regional Development Centre at the Dundalk Institute of Technology, for Incubation space. In the past it has also developed a programme for entrepreneurs in association with Dundalk IT. Given the geography, cross-border links are an important part of the agency's operations, and along with developing relationships with InterTrade Ireland, EI in association with Invest NI, are currently running a Cross Border Enterprise Incubation Programme which is known as the Transform Programme. This is a programme for new entrepreneurs who wish to research new innovative business ideas.

Competition for foreign direct investment (FDI) is relentless but Ireland continues to punch above its weight when it comes to attracting overseas investment. Indeed, County Louth has the largest concentration of IDA supported companies — 19 in all. IDA Ireland is actively marketing County Louth for new inward investment and, in line with the National Spatial Strategy, the gateway town of Dundalk has been designated a primary development centre. Dundalk is being targeted by the agency for new investment in the Pharma, ICT, Financial Services and Internationally Traded services sectors. I am advised that IDA Ireland owns over 20 hectares of land in the county overall, including Drogheda Business and Technology Park.

The Government is committed to achieving balanced regional development and a key regional objective included in the National Development Plan (NDP), is to support the creation of the necessary conditions, to extend the process of employment and productivity growth in higher value added functions to all regions. Progress has, and will continue to be achieved, by developing our R&D base, investing in critical physical and communications infrastructures and, promoting tertiary education and lifelong learning. Underpinning the vision of establishing Ireland as a key location for leading edge research and development, and one where high quality jobs that are underpinned by knowledge and high skill levels become a reality, the NDP sets out an investment of €8.2 billion in Research, Development and Innovation to 2013.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 325: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grant aid paid for the creation of jobs in County Louth for each year since 2002 to date in 2008 by organisation and location. [29117/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of grant assistance is a matter for the enterprise development agencies and not one in which I have a direct function. However the attached table outlines total grants paid for the creation of jobs, as issued by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and the County Enterprise Board to companies in Co. Louth for each of the years in question.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grant aid given to a company (details supplied) for the creation of jobs recently announced for County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29119/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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On Tuesday 1st July, I announced that the Coca-Cola Company would, on the following day, be submitting a planning application to Wexford County Council with a view to establishing a combined manufacturing and innovation facility on a 41 acre site on the Wexford Business Park. The proposed investment is expected to exceed $300 million, of which a portion would be attributed to R&D activities, and will include manufacturing, laboratory and pilot plant facilities to enable process development and product commercialisation. It is anticipated that the proposed flavour manufacturing and innovation facility will create approximately 60 jobs after one year and in excess of 100 jobs after five years of the plant's operation. IDA Ireland will be supporting both the manufacturing and R&D dimensions of the overall investment. However, for reasons of commercial sensitivity and client confidentiality, the amount of grant aid given to the project cannot be divulged.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 328: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding a plant (details supplied) in County Louth; the progress to date in providing new jobs at this location; the job creation agencies involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29120/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The company in question announced the closure of its manufacturing and distribution operations in Drogheda in August 2007. The decision was due to excess capacity in Ireland. The company is committed to supporting its employees through a generous redundancy package, retraining, business start up assistance, a high level of outplacement and by promoting the skills and expertise of its employees. The full range of services of FÁS were made available to those workers who wished to avail of them.

While the future plans for the development or disposal of the site are exclusively a matter for the company the services of the industrial development agencies are at the disposal of the company in this regard. Both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are actively working to market County Louth for new inward investment and to grow indigenous enterprise, particularly the Gateway Towns of Dundalk and Drogheda, which are designated as primary development centres under the National Spatial Strategy.

Both agencies also work closely with Dundalk Institute of Technology in the development of programmes to facilitate investment in the region. Dundalk Institute of Technology is proactive in the provision of both courses and facilities to encourage development. These include facilities to promote Digital Media, and its Regional Development Centre in which there are a number of incubator units to promote start up operations. Enterprise Ireland has provided direct funding to the Regional Development Centre.

I am confident that the combined efforts of the development agencies, in collaboration with all local stakeholders will deliver sustainable investment and employment for the region and that the policies currently in place to achieve that objective are the correct ones. The State Development agencies under the auspices of my Department will continue to promote Drogheda and Co. Louth in general for new industrial development.