Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Figures in relation to jobs created by the enterprise development agency are compiled annually in the Forfás Annual Employment Survey. The most up to date figures available are for 2009. Set out in Tables 1 and 2 accompanying this reply are the figures in respect of jobs created in firms supported by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, together with those assisted by the County Enterprise Boards in 2008 and 2009 in the counties in question. As the information is compiled on an annualised basis, I expect the figures in respect of 2010 to become available during the first quarter of this year.

In terms of job creation Budget 2011 saw €508 million in capital spending alone dedicated to driving Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth through increased exports, more foreign direct investments and the smart economy by significantly investing in research and development. This multi-billion capital investment in growth and jobs is routed through my Department and its agencies, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the County and City Enterprise Boards. This investment and other measures outlined in the National Recovery Plan will support the achievement of the targets set out in the Government's Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy strategy, including the target to create 300,000 new direct and indirect jobs in the enterprise and tourism sectors by 2015. It will deliver nearly 30,000 new jobs in 2011, including both direct and indirect jobs, just from the IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland client base alone.

Enterprise Ireland activity is focused on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs setting up new High potential Start Up Companies (HPSUs). Enterprise Ireland provides a range of supports such as financial supports, business and marketing advice, mentoring, product development etc. Since 2008 five new HPSUs have been approved in Co. Monaghan and two in Co. Cavan. Enterprise Ireland, over the period 2008 to date, approved €12,914,430 to companies based in Co. Cavan and €16,491,506 to companies based in Co. Monaghan.

IDA Ireland is fully committed to securing a balance in regional development including winning investment for the Border Region including counties Cavan and Monaghan. As well as marketing the Border Region for new Greenfield investment, IDA continues to work with existing clients there in order that they might broaden their mandate in Ireland and continue to re-invest in their sites within the Region.

During 2011, the CEBs located across the border region will continue to be actively involved in the area of economic development and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development. This will be done not just by direct grant aid to businesses and project promoters but also through the provision of a range of other important business supports such as mentoring, business training and business advice, all of which help to stimulate indigenous enterprise creation.

As the Enterprise Ireland and CEB portfolios of indigenous client companies are of their nature not very mobile, therefore these bodies arranged no itinerary visits. Between 2008 - 2010 there were two IDA sponsored itinerary visits to Co. Cavan.

Table 1

Table 2