John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the initiatives she has in place to attract industry to County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38274/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the aegis of my Department, industrial development in County Mayo is promoted by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the local County Enterprise Board.

As regards IDA Ireland, the emphasis is on attracting new knowledge intensive projects in the Medical Technologies, Life Sciences, Information Communications Technology and International Services sectors. The agency has developed flagship Business & Technology Parks in Castlebar and Westport which are being actively marketed. There is now also 11.55 hectares of industrially zoned land on the Sligo Road in Ballina. There were 3,004 people employed in 19 IDA supported companies in County Mayo in 2007. The agency continues to work with its existing base of overseas companies to encourage them to grow and expand.

Enterprise Ireland is also actively involved in assisting its client companies to grow and develop their businesses. In 2007, the agency worked with 124 client companies in the County employing 3,155 people and €3.8 million was approved by the agency for its clients. In April 2007, Ovagen Ltd was launched with the announcement of 60 jobs for Ballina. The agency also supported 2 "Spirit of Enterprise" seminars at the Incubation Centre in Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology in Castlebar.

In addition, Enterprise Ireland has approved 16 innovation vouchers for Mayo companies. These vouchers give companies access to the vast knowledge available in Irish Institutes of Technology, Universities and other public research bodies. The agency has supported two Centres of Excellence in GMIT and approved support for the development of Campus Innovation Centres at GMIT. The agency also supports Enterprise Centres in Ballina, Ballyhaunis, Brickens, Claremorris, Foxford, Killala and Kiltimagh. The town of Westport was successful in the 2008 call for proposals.

So far this year, Mayo County Enterprise Board has provided €443,850 in grant support to 24 projects located throughout the County. Between them, these projects have the potential to create up to 50 jobs most of which are expected to be in place over the course of the coming year. The Board has also provided business related training and mentoring support to 303 persons on a variety of programmes held throughout the County. By year-end, the Board also expects to have interacted with approximately 400 second-level students in one-day workshops aimed at promoting an enterprise culture in Mayo.

I am satisfied that the ongoing efforts of IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Board together with local interests, will continue to attract investment and jobs to County Mayo.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals she has to ensure a more balanced regional approach to the promotion of employment and industrial development throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38275/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Enterprise Development agencies under the aegis of my Department, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development together with the County Enterprise Boards, are responsible for growing indigenous enterprises and attracting and growing foreign direct investment. Strong, balanced regional development and a thriving culture of entrepreneurship in all parts of Ireland are key strategic objectives for my Department and the Development agencies under its remit.

Over the last 10-15 years, Ireland has undergone a transformation from a low wage/low cost economy towards a high value and knowledge-based one. Arising from this transformation, the nature of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has changed and Ireland is now competing for premium mobile investments against the most advanced countries in the world. We face stiff international competition for these high value investments because of their economic impact and strategic importance. A key aspect of the high value, knowledge intensive FDI Ireland now competes for, is that it increasingly favours locations in or near centres of urban scale, where it has access to the concentrations of infrastructure, skills and services it needs. Large urban areas tend to be where the various factors that drive modern economic growth assemble — an educated and skilled workforce, internationally trading firms, third-level institutions, Research and Development facilities, transport and other infrastructure, together with culture, leisure and social facilities. In combination, these factors establish the type of basis essential for growth in the urban area itself, its wider region and the country as a whole.

In order to support its efforts to secure these high value investments, while strengthening the enterprise base of the less developed regions, IDA Ireland has aligned its strategy with the Government's National Spatial Strategy and the agency is focused on delivering investments to the Gateway and Hub locations nationally, and specifically those in the Border Midlands and West (BMW) region. This strategy involves matching investor requirements with the competencies, infrastructure and critical mass of the Gateway and Hub locations to secure the maximum number of investments for Ireland. The key sectors of focus are Life Sciences, Information and Communications Technologies and high value Services activities.

Taking account of the locational requirements of these sectors and the critical importance of centres of urban scale in attracting the high value investments, IDA Ireland has in recent years set a high level target to deliver in excess of 60% of investments outside the Greater Dublin Area. In 2007, this target was exceeded with 64% of investments locating outside the Greater Dublin Area.

In relation to Enterprise Ireland, the agency is fully committed to assisting companies to grow and realise their full potential, working intensively with them on their business plans on a holistic basis to do so. The agency provides a range of supports, both financial and non-financial for client companies and institutions. Enterprise Ireland also maintains extensive relationships with all regional and local development bodies and has a key partnership role to play with the country's agencies and organisations involved in entrepreneurial development.

Enterprise Ireland's policy objectives for balanced regional development are reflected in the structure of its funding offer, whereby funding for existing company expansion and start-up businesses is biased towards the regions. The maximum grant level is higher than in Dublin and the mid-East and a higher proportion of this funding is also non-repayable. Enterprise Ireland's strategy 'Transforming Irish Industry 2008-2010' includes the strategic target of continuing the drive for the establishment of High Potential Start Ups, with a target of delivering 50% of supported start ups outside the Dublin region.

The most visible regional development programme in Enterprise Ireland is the Community Enterprise Scheme. Last Friday, I announced the awarding of over €11m in funding and management development support for 39 community enterprise centres spread throughout the country. This is the second tranche of approvals from the €21m 2007 — 2009 Community Enterprise Scheme. Since the launch of the first scheme in 1989, a total of €50.8m has been approved and the impact of the programme at a local level, both urban and rural, is significant. The Government through Enterprise Ireland has supported 134 communities, and the 105 completed centres are now home to approximately 1,000 successful businesses, employing approximately 5000 people. These centres have a real and measurable impact on the economic and social development of local communities and are a tangible contribution to balanced regional development. Of course, all of Enterprise Ireland's programmes are available to all companies regardless of location.

Shannon Development is the regional Economic Development agency for the mid-West region. It has responsibility for FDI in the Shannon Free Zone (SFZ) and complements the work of IDA and Enterprise Ireland through the provision of tailored property solutions for both FDI and indigenous industry in the region generally. Other activities undertaken by the Company that promote regional development include promotion of Broadband services, the E-Towns project and participation in initiatives such as the Atlantic Technology Corridor and the Atlantic Way.

In relation to County Enterprise Boards, the fact that the Boards operate at a local level throughout the country means that their interventions are targeted at assisting businesses, and those who are planning to establish businesses, in local communities including those in rural areas. In this way, the CEBs are making a significant contribution to ensuring balanced regional development.

I am satisfied that the policies and initiatives being adopted will continue to enhance balanced regional development.