Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of money she has provided on a county basis over each of the past ten years towards the creation of jobs through the different agencies attached to her Department; if she is satisfied that the difficulties of the Border counties through the previous 30 years have been adequately recognised in that distribution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19977/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Provision of monies by the Development agencies under the aegis of my Department towards job creation throughout the country is a day to day operational matter for the agencies. I do not have any role in the day to day operational matters of these agencies. Notwithstanding this, the agencies are aware that balanced regional development is the aim of the Government. Over the years, every effort has been made and, indeed, continues to be made to attract industry and jobs to the Border, Midlands and West (BMW) region as well as to the rest of the country. However, the ultimate decision as to where particular projects locate rests with the promoters of those projects.

The establishment of InterTradeIreland ten years ago has been of considerable assistance to the border counties. InterTradeIreland is the North/South implementation body charged with enhancing the competitiveness of the all-island economy through the creation of trade and business development programmes and networks. The suite of programmes on offer to companies from InterTradeIreland includes science, technology and innovation programmes, technology transfer, sales and marketing, and equity networks. Since its establishment, over 90 companies from the border counties of Ireland, and over 110 companies from the Northern border counties, have participated in InterTradeIreland's programmes.

I am satisfied that the pro-enterprise strategies which we are pursuing will address the jobs situation in the border counties and in the rest of the country particularly as Ireland is currently rated as one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the EU.