Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she perceives as necessary to ensure, preserve and promote County Kildare as an attractive investment location resulting in enhanced job opportunities in the future having particular regard to the availability of a young energetic and highly skilled workforce and the high quality of primary, post-primary and third level education geographically located with ready access to supportive infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13742/09]

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 local County Enterprise Board (CEB) are responsible for industrial development in Co. Kildare. Over the past five years, IDA Ireland's strategy has been to promote the area as part of an integrated East Region with access to a population base of 1.5 million people. The East Region offers foreign direct investors a global gateway and benefits from almost half of all employment in IDA supported companies. The agency is working closely with educational institutions in the County, in developing the skill sets necessary to attract high value added employment to the County. The agency is also working with the Training and Employment agency, FÁS to provide guidance in developing the skills needed by those already in the workforce who are interested in upskilling.

The County clearly remains very attractive for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as evidenced by the announcement by Hewlett Packard on 10 March 2009 of the expansion of its Global Service Desk operation in Leixlip, which will result in the creation of 500 jobs over the next 12 months. Since the beginning of 2005, Enterprise Ireland has approved over €15m in support to companies in Kildare to help them grow their sales and exports and improve innovation and new product development in order that they can compete on world markets. The consumer foods sector in particular has shown rapid growth in recent years. The last two years have seen significant investment by Green Isle Foods and Dawn Farm Foods Ltd, both supported by Enterprise Ireland, leading to significant employment increases in both of these facilities.

Enterprise Ireland also supports the Third Level colleges in and adjoining Kildare to foster links with industry thereby encouraging industry to increase its use of technology. Under its Innovation Partnership and Research Funding Programme, Enterprise Ireland has approved grant support of €4.32m since 2005 to projects focussed at growing new high added value businesses. Under the Campus Innovation Programme, €2.5m has been provided towards the cost of an Incubation Centre on the Maynooth Campus. The development of community based enterprise centres is a crucial part of the drive to create new regional enterprise and Enterprise Ireland has supported the development of three Centres in Co. Kildare at Clane, Allenwood and Athy.

Kildare County Enterprise Board assists many micro-enterprises in the County in developing their growth potential. The CEB is ensuring that available funds are targeted to maximize entrepreneurial development throughout 2009. In addition to providing grant-aid to projects, the Board also provides a range of other supports to businesses in the County, including business-related training courses for owner-managers and their staff, one-to-one mentoring provided by business specialists, in company training and start your own business courses. In 2008, 791 people availed of such training programmes run by Kildare County Enterprise Board. I am satisfied that the efforts of the agencies and the CEB will continue to bring investment opportunities and jobs to the County.