Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 205: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the companies which the Government have attracted to open up in a town (details supplied) in County Kildare in the past five years; the number in each case of jobs created; if she will break this down by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1902/09]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 206: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to tackle unemployment in a town (details supplied) in County Kildare which has suffered an increase in unemployment, despite the fact that no major employers have closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1903/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together.

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. A range of strategies, programmes and financial incentives are in place to promote economic development that will give rise to sustainable employment throughout Kildare including Naas. 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 foster economic development and job creation across the country as a whole.

Both Enterprise Ireland and IDA work closely together and, through their network of regional and overseas offices, interact with existing and prospective clients in an effort to identify opportunities for investment and growth and thereby job creation. In addition, the training and enterprise development agencies are active participants in the County Development Boards and collaborate with other stakeholders in the county to promote the infrastructure and environment for enterprise and job creation. In the five-year period 2004 to 2008, a total of 165 new jobs were created in 2 IDA supported companies in Naas.

Enterprise Ireland is actively involved in assisting Naas-based client companies to grow and develop their businesses. Since the beginning of 2005, EI has approved over €15m in support to companies in Kildare, including companies in Naas, to help them grow their sales and exports and improve innovation and new product development in order that they can compete on world markets. One of the main sectors of indigenous industry in County Kildare is Food & Consumer Products. New companies — now leaders in the consumer products market — have been established and have created new employment. The Green Isle Foods expansion investment, which is supported by Enterprise Ireland will lead to the creation of 130 new jobs at full production. Dawn Farm Foods Ltd. has undertaken a major investment of €28m in its Naas plant, again with the support of Enterprise Ireland, which will generate 100 new jobs.

Kildare County Enterprise Board provides a source of support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases. During the years 2003 to 2007 Kildare CEB paid out €1,439,078.70 in grant assistance to 98 projects, which in turn created 276 new jobs in the County.

Due to the downturn in the economy unemployment is increasing across the country as a whole. This situation is regrettable, particularly to those who have lost their jobs and their families. Unwelcome as it is this situation is an indication of the challenges that are now facing the labour market and the economy as a whole. In an effort to alleviate the hardships for those involved FÁS and the Department of Social and Family Affairs are working closely together so they can respond quickly to the increase in unemployment. For example, it has been agreed that redundant apprentices will be referred immediately to FÁS rather than wait for three months on the Live Register. And the Agency has also put in place a series of actions to facilitate redundant apprentices in completing their studies.

In conjunction with the Local Employment Services, FÁS has geared up its Employment Services to provide increased capacity for expected increased referrals from the Live Register. FÁS has also established a training fund to enable a speedy response to identified re-training needs for low skilled and redundant craft workers. In a strategy aimed at meeting the needs of those who were recently active in the workforce and who now find themselves unemployed, FÁS will open its evening classes free of charge to people who are unemployed.