Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of employment opportunities created by Enterprise Ireland in Kildare South for each of the past five years; the level of funding or grant assistance involved for each year and each project; the proposals or plans that Enterprise Ireland has for the area for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30447/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Enterprise Ireland employment figures are compiled annually in the Forfás Annual Employment Survey, the most up to date of which details employment figures until 2009. As the information is compiled on an annualised basis, the figures in respect of 2010 will not be available until 2011. Data is collected and collated at county level by the agency therefore it is not possible to provide information specifically for Kildare South. Details of the number of full time job gains in Enterprise Ireland assisted firms in County Kildare for each of the years between 2005 and 2009 is set out in the following tabular statement. Total grant assistance to Enterprise Ireland client companies in Kildare in the period in question amounted to amounted to €21,425,883, made up as follows, a total of €857,743 in 2005; €2.3m in 2006; almost €1.9m in 2007; €3.9m in 2008 and over €12m in 2009.

Companies in Kildare have also been supported both through the Enterprise Stabilisation Fund (ESF) and the Employment Subsidy Scheme, administered by Enterprise Ireland. These schemes were aimed at helping viable but vulnerable companies to survive the global downturn. To end of June 2010, there have been 9 projects valued at €7.6m approved in County Kildare under the ESF and since the launch of the Employment Subsidy Scheme in August 2009, approximately €2.8m has been approved for 36 companies located in County Kildare to date, with the result that these companies have committed to maintain 1,618 full time and 514 part time jobs to 30 November 2010. In 2010 Enterprise Ireland will focus on sustaining companies that will as the year progresses lead to these companies preparing for growth. Enterprise Ireland will place a strong focus on four key areas to achieve this i.e. maintaining and winning new sales, driving lean manufacturing, and competitiveness, promoting innovation, commercialisation and R&D and developing new start-up companies and fostering entrepreneurship.