Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she is taking to support enterprise development in the midland and western regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44650/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Two Industrial Development agencies under the aegis of my Department, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, together with the relevant County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) are responsible for enterprise development in the regions in question. The primary role of IDA Ireland is the attraction of high quality Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Ireland. An integral and fundamental element of this role is the agency's mandate to promote sustainable and balanced regional development. However, the marketing of individual areas for FDI and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency. While I may give general policy directives to the agency, I am precluded under the Industrial Development Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

However, I can say that the agency has invested heavily in the provision of property solutions tailored to meet the needs of investors and has developed a network of high-quality Business Parks in locations throughout both regions. Advance planning permission for a Biopharmaceutical facility in Oranmore, Co Galway, the first of its kind in Ireland, has been obtained. Considerable success has been achieved in attracting high quality investment to both regions. At present there are a total of 119 IDA supported companies employing over 17,500 people between both regions. Furthermore, IDA has a good pipeline for 2009 and is hopeful of securing further investments across a number of locations. The key sectors of focus are life sciences, information and communications technologies and high value services activities.

Enterprise Ireland has a wide range of programmes to address the multi-disciplinary demands of entrepreneurship and the diversity of business types. The agency supports companies to achieve productivity gains, internationalisation and export growth. It assists with research and development, management skills acquisition, market information and seed and venture capital. The agency also addresses micro businesses with support for incubation space in communities. Between the two regions, the agency has almost 800 clients employing over 20,000 people. In 2008, over €40 million was approved for the agency's client companies.

During 2008, the CEBs in the two regions paid out over €2.46m in grant assistance to 218 clients. This year, the CEBs are continuing to support enterprise development through the provision of both direct financial assistance (in the form of capital, feasibility and employment grants) and through indirect or "soft support" assistance such as management development, capability support and the development and delivery of activities to highlight and promote enterprise.

The Training and Employment agency FAS works very closely with the Industrial Development agencies and the CEBs in delivering its wide range of services. I am satisfied that the policies and initiatives being pursued by the Industrial Development agencies and the CEBs will continue to bring about industrial development and employment opportunities for the regions.