Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency visits that were made with potential industrialists in 2009 and to date in 2010 to County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41828/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by IDA Ireland that in the period from the beginning of 2009 to date in 2010, there have been 20 site visits by potential investors to County Clare, including the Shannon Free Zone, 10 in 2009 and 10 in 2010. In the same period there were 21 such visits to the Shannon Free Zone arranged by Shannon Development, 12 in 2009 and 9 to date in 2010.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the plans he has to address the unemployment rate among young persons here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41851/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Specific activation policies, or measures targeted at the unemployed are the responsibility of my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills Ms. Mary Coughlan, through skills provision, employment programmes and work placements and questions relating to the specific programmes should be addressed to the Tánaiste and her Department. The role of my Department is to ensure that we have the right policies in place that will support and grow our enterprise base in order to facilitate both job creation and job retention.

The State Development agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, and the County and City Enterprise Boards are continuing to drive and promote enterprise development, and consequently employment creation in our economy. IDA Ireland continues to market and promote Ireland for inward investment. Enterprise Ireland is actively focused on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs setting up new high potential start-up companies, and the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies. The agency also continues to work with community groups around the country to develop community enterprise centres designed to foster micro enterprises. The County and City Enterprise Boards support the micro enterprise sector - businesses with 10 employees or less - in the start-up and expansion phases and promotes entrepreneurship at local level.

Job creation is a key priority of Government policy. The Government is working on a multifaceted approach focusing on enterprise development and job creation. In September, the Taoiseach launched the five-year integrated Government plan for trade, tourism and investment aimed at generating 300,000 jobs. The new plan, "Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy", is the first integrated strategy to promote overseas trade, tourism and investment. With this new strategy, the Government aims to position Ireland for strong export-led growth to 2015, resulting in high levels of job creation. In addition to delivering programmes through the Enterprise Development Agencies, my Department also works across Government to ensure that Ireland regains competitiveness, including cost competitiveness, thus improving the business environment and enabling companies to successfully compete internationally and grow jobs.