Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the specific efforts he, the Industrial Development Authority or Enterprise Ireland have made to encourage or provide jobs in County Monaghan over the past five years; his views on whether it is unfair that so little effort has been made and the fact that there are less than 400 IDA related jobs in County Monaghan; his further views that County Monaghan, because of its location suffered more as a result of the Northern Ireland troubles and deserves some degree of special attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24288/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Enterprise Ireland activity in County Monaghan is focussed on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs in manufacturing and internationally traded services companies, the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies and in enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level.

With this in mind, Enterprise Ireland is working closely with Monaghan County Development Board and Monaghan County Enterprise Board, holding monthly clinics in County Monaghan on the first Monday of each month to advise potential entrepreneurs on the supports available from the different agencies. Enterprise Ireland client companies in County Monaghan were approved a total of €1.25 million to date in 2010 and total payments made to companies in the same period amounted to €2.5 million.

During the last five years Monaghan County Enterprise Board has issued over €1 million in grant support to 89 micro-enterprises, resulting in a net jobs increase of more than 130 in CEB-supported companies in the county. In 2010, Monaghan CEB has continued to support enterprise development in the area through the provision of both direct and indirect assistance and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development at county level.

One of the high level goals set out in the recently launched IDA strategy document, entitled "Horizon 2020", is that, in the period 2010 to 2014, 50% of FDI projects will be located outside of Dublin and Cork. This initiative supports national policy as outlined in the National Spatial Strategy. If FDI is to continue to contribute to balanced regional development, the other regions of the country must be promoted as regions of scale with urban centres that provide the range of infrastructure and services that high value investment projects demand.

I can assure the Deputy that IDA continues to vigorously promote such regions, including Monaghan, to potential investors. I am pleased to say that the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has resulted in the creation of opportunities for the attraction and development of foreign direct investment to the entire border region, including Monaghan, and there is a wide range of cross border activities aimed at economic development. As a result of discussions that I had with Minister Arlene Foster, my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland have agreed on the need to develop a joint proposal for submission to the Special EU Programmes Body for funding under the Enterprise Theme of the Interreg IVA Programme. I understand that Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland have met in order to progress this as a priority.