Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation his efforts and State agencies under the remit of his Department to sustain jobs in the Shannon Industrial Estate in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39597/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Shannon Development is the State agency which has the mandate for the support and establishment of both foreign and Irish owned enterprises in the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate, Co Clare. Shannon Development is also responsible for the management and development of the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate. This includes the provision of property solutions to accommodate the FDI and indigenous sectors. Shannon Development main sector promotion strategy is focused on promoting the following: · Aerospace, · Financial & International Services e.g. asset financing / leasing / insurance / data processing etc · Medical Technology/Life Sciences, · Logistics, · Digital Media.

I am informed by Shannon Development that in respect of the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate there are approximately 100 enterprises established with 75% of those enterprises of foreign parentage. Shannon Development is working intensively with local management to: · Secure the existing employment in companies; · Attracting incremental growth of operations through the effective delivery of State Aid support including Regional State Aids such as Employment & Capital Incentive Schemes, Training & Up-Skilling Programmes and also Research and Development & Innovation which are specifically geared towards generation of new activities and/or enhancement of existing product lines; · Help address some of the immediate challenges facing the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate business community during the year. Shannon Development assisted 18 companies at Shannon Free Zone to secure €2.1 million support through the Government Employment Subsidy Scheme (Temporary). As a result these companies have committed to maintaining 1,850 jobs.

It should be noted that the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate remains one of the largest business parks in the country providing over 6,000 jobs. My Department and the development agencies under its remit, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, City and County Enterprise Boards and in particular, Shannon Development, are all committed to the economic and industrial development of Co. Clare, including the Shannon Free Zone, in line with national enterprise policy goals, and the achievement of balanced regional development. To achieve these aims Shannon Development networks with existing client companies and also promotes the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate at leading US & European Trade promotions. Shannon Development works closely with national development agencies i.e. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, in pursuit of these activities. Shannon Development will continue to do everything in its power to meet and respond effectively to the challenge of sustaining employment in the Shannon Free Zone Industrial Estate.