Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation his plans for south Tipperary in terms of job creation measures; the key industries he has focused on for south Tipperary; if a unique policy has been drafted to encourage trade and innovation to the area; the role the Tipperary Institute can play in attracting jobs; the number of Industrial Development Authority jobs that have been created in south Tipperary each year since 2005 and to date in 2010; the meetings that he has had with the IDA to attract jobs to south Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30648/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The industrial development agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, and the Tipperary South County Enterprise Board, which function under the aegis of my Department, are responsible for investment and enterprise development in South Tipperary and, through their activities to achieve job creation. Following announcements of significant job losses in South Tipperary, the County Manager, in 2008, convened a task force to respond to any downsizing and closures in the county. It has met a number of times over the past two years and convenes as necessary to respond to jobs crises in the region. Enterprise Ireland has been an active member on this task force, along with FÁS, IDA Ireland, the South Tipperary County Enterprise Board, Tipperary Institute and Tipperary County Council.

Enterprise Ireland continues to foster job creation in Tipperary South through the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs in setting up new High Potential Start-Up companies and the retention and creation of new jobs in existing client companies. The agency is enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland, at a national and regional level, through support of research in companies and third level institutions.

Enterprise Ireland supports the Enterprise Platform Programme, a one-year incubation programme designed to provide hands-on support and management development for entrepreneurs wanting to set up their own business, by funding eligible participants to attend. The programme includes expertise from Waterford Institute of Technology, Tipperary Institute and external consultants. Enterprise Ireland works with interested parties from South Tipperary and refers them to this programme. The South-East EPP Programme for 2009-2010 started in September 2009 and recruitment for the 2010-2011 programme is currently underway. Enterprise Ireland has also engaged with Tipperary Institute in Clonmel to discuss how they can encourage entrepreneurship.

The role of Tipperary South County Enterprise Board is to provide support for the micro-enterprise sector in the start-up and expansion phases at a local level throughout South Tipperary. The core activities of the Board include the provision of financial interventions to support business development, the provision of business advice and mentoring, the delivery of programmes aimed at improving the skills of owner managers so as to assist business survival rates and facilitate future growth, creating local enterprise awareness and developing an enterprise culture.

The forms of available financial assistance, subject to certain eligibility criteria, include the priming grant, the business expansion/development grant and the feasibility/innovation grant. The latter is available to micro-enterprises to assist with the cost of necessary pre-start up studies carried out for the purposes of assessing market interest in or demand for a proposed new product or service, the appropriateness of the associated funding plans, the general viability and sustainability of the venture and assistance with innovation.

The number of jobs created in IDA supported companies in South Tipperary in 2009 was 252, in 2008 was 262, in 2007 was 604, in 2006 was 233 and in 2005 was 56. The figures for 2010 will not be available until the end of this year. Since becoming Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, I have had meetings with both the Chairman and the CEO of IDA Ireland to discuss all aspects of foreign direct investment. In marketing South Tipperary for new foreign direct investment, IDA Ireland is focused on attracting overseas companies in the services and knowledge based industries, including advanced manufacturing. The future development of the Ballingarrane Estate in Clonmel incorporating an IDA Business Park and Tipperary Institute will be a key asset in the quest for further overseas investment in the County. In addition, IDA continues to invest in existing companies in the region, through research and development investment and other schemes, to maintain and grow jobs in those companies. The key industry sector for South Tipperary is life sciences, which accounts for almost 90% of employment.

IDA Ireland continues to work closely with third level educational institutions in the region so that the skill sets necessary to attract high value added employment to the county are being developed. Tipperary Institute and Waterford Institute of Technology are key resources that will be critical to attracting and maintaining overseas companies in the county. The recently announced integration of Tipperary Institute and Limerick Institute of Technology will create a significantly enlarged third level institution that will enhance higher education opportunities throughout Tipperary and surrounding counties.