Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the initiatives in place and the progress achieved in finding a replacement enterprise for a business (details supplied) in County Roscommon. [15140/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Job creation is central to our economic recovery and the Programme for Government has job creation at its core. 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. On a national basis, the Jobs Initiative announced on 10 May focuses our limited resources on measures that offer the greatest potential for expansion and employment creation in the domestic economy. The Initiative has a significant focus on tourism, and the reduction in the VAT Rate along with the abolition of the travel tax will provide an important stimulus to tourism businesses in County Roscommon and the Country as a whole.

In terms of job creation, Enterprise Ireland (EI) activity is focussed on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs setting up new High Potential Start-Up Companies, the retention and creation of new jobs in existing companies and enhancing the innovation capability of Ireland at a national and regional level through support of research in companies and Third Level institutions. At present, there are over 60 Enterprise Ireland client companies in Co. Roscommon, employing almost 1,200 people and in 2010 the agency approved over €1.5m for client companies in the county.

The agency has also approved financial support for a total of five community Enterprise Centres in Co. Roscommon. These centres are located in Arigna, Ballaghaderreen, Boyle, Castlerea and Roscommon Town.

As regards the closure of the factory referred to, in 2006, I am informed that Enterprise Ireland has been monitoring the situation closely and even though this is a particularly difficult time for the food industry, the agency is continuing to actively pursue a replacement enterprise for these particular premises. I have been advised also that the company has advertised the premises for sale.

The creation of jobs in Roscommon is also supported by the activities of the Roscommon CEB through a series of programmes and both financial and non-financial assistance are available to a project promoter. In 2010, Roscommon CEB provided over €340,000 to 16 projects and assisted more than 500 people in their training and mentoring programmes. During 2011, the Board has continued to support enterprise development in Boyle and throughout the County and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development. In relation to potential Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) based job creation for the area, IDA Ireland's strategy for Roscommon is to promote the County as part of an integrated Midlands Region. In line with the National Spatial Strategy, IDA is committed to marketing the County town of Roscommon as a location for FDI. To this end, IDA Ireland works closely with educational institutions in the Region, in developing the best fit between their programs and the skill sets necessary to attract high value added employment to the county. At present, there are six IDA Ireland supported companies in Roscommon employing approximately 755 people.