Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 112: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will support investment and jobs on the north side of Dublin, particularly Dublin 3, 5, 9 and 17. [27189/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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For the purpose of promoting investment and jobs in Dublin, the Enterprise Development agencies do not distinguish between individual postal districts of the city.

As regards foreign direct investment, there are some 450 IDA Ireland supported companies in the city employing over 50,000 people. In the past week IBM Corporation, the largest information technology company in the world, announced its intention to make an investment of over €25 million in an expansion of its Ireland Software Lab. The expansion will see the company create 100 new software engineering positions in its Ireland Software Lab located in Dublin. In addition, Rottapharm, which is located in Mulhuddart, announced a significant expansion of its Irish manufacturing with a €7 million investment and an increase in employment of 35 people in new high level positions, which will bring employment at the site to 150 people.

In relation to indigenous industry, Enterprise Ireland is focussed on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs who are setting up High Potential Start-Up Companies. The agency is also focused on the retention and creation of jobs in existing companies. Since the beginning of 2008, Enterprise Ireland has approved over €47m and made payments of over €30m in support of development projects for indigenous companies in the north Dublin area. These include support for development and expansion of campus company activity to encourage and support the commercialisation of research and development carried out in the third level sector.

The recently established Enterprise Stabilisation Fund will enable internationally trading companies survive the current global downturn by supporting their drive to reduce costs and gain sales in overseas markets. Sustainable economic recovery will be driven by enterprises focused on increasing their exports of innovative products and services in global markets.

Enterprise Ireland has also provided funding for Campus Incubation Centres in Dublin City University, Blanchardstown Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and in the National College of Ireland located in the International Financial Services Centre. Enterprise Ireland also supports Third Level Colleges to foster links with industry thereby encouraging industry to increase its use of technology. Under the Innovation Partnership and Research Funding Programme, Enterprise Ireland approved over €33m in supports and made payments in excess of €24m since the beginning of 2007 in support of such projects in the north Dublin area.

The agency has made significant investment in Community Enterprise Centres in the North Dublin area to support the establishment and expansion of micro enterprises through local community participation. Under the various Community Enterprise Centre Schemes, Centres were supported in Coolock and Darndale. Those Centres are now fully occupied and provide vital accommodation for micro enterprise companies in their formative years. Enterprise Ireland has also funded Community Enterprise Centres in Ballymun, Gloucester Place, North King Street, Oxmantown Lane, the Bolton Trust Centre at East Wall Road and at Mulhuddart and Balbriggan.

Finally, the Dublin City Enterprise Board provides support to micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases in manufacturing, tourism and services. The Board supports individuals, firms and community groups.