Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps each of the State agencies under his aegis are doing to promote job creation in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19199/11]

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 job creation. The Jobs Initiative announced in May focuses our limited resources on measures that offer the greatest potential for expansion and employment creation in the domestic economy. Additionally, it 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 Co. Meath and around the Country.

The programmes supported by my Department and its agencies will be critical in achieving economic growth through promoting the export potential of enterprise in Ireland and driving our Smart Economy. The allocation of €508 million in funding for 2011 will ensure that the core programmes of the enterprise agencies are sustained and targeted as well as driving investment in research and development. This investment in the Enterprise Development agencies will drive recovery in the economy by facilitating the winning of foreign direct investments, the growth of indigenous exports and the creation of sustainable jobs.

The primary role of IDA Ireland is the attraction of high quality Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Ireland. An integral and fundamental element of this role is the agency's mandate to promote sustainable and balanced regional development. In this context, IDA Ireland will continue to target Greenfield and expansion projects in Financial Services and International Services and ICT for the Meath area. The agency will also work with its existing client base in the County to expand their presence.

An availability of premises is one of the important attractions in encouraging FDI to Ireland. In Meath, IDA Ireland has 28 hectares (70 acres) of serviced industrial lands available at IDA Navan Business Park where six projects are located. Additionally there is a new 24 hectares (60 acre) Business Park at Donore, Drogheda, which is actually located in Co. Meath. The financial services company - 'International Fund Services' employs 210 people at this location. In addition, Generali which is one of the world's largest insurance companies, have developed three business functions in Navan which today employ over 250 staff. Generali announced a 30 job expansion plan in 2010 which is linked with a major new investment involving the construction of a new 23,000 sq.ft. office facility. This will open in Autumn 2011.

Enterprise Ireland will continue to support job creation through a number of interventions, such as supporting the establishment and growth of high potential start-up companies and supporting companies to target new opportunities in overseas markets. Enterprise Ireland has 175 client companies in Meath employing 4,109 people on a full time basis and 689 on a contract or part-time basis. Since 2008 Enterprise Ireland has made payments of approximately €9.5m to its clients in the County. This funding has helped companies to retain and create employment, to explore new markets for innovative products and services and build innovation capacity.

In 2010, sixteen innovation vouchers were awarded to companies in Meath to the value of €80,000. These vouchers allow small Irish companies to access innovative solutions provided by third level colleges. Enterprise Ireland co-ordinates business start up workshops on a nationwide basis, called EnterpriseSTART. It is delivered for potential entrepreneurs with a desire to start technology or knowledge intensive businesses with good export potential. A workshop will be held in Ashbourne towards the end of July.

The Meath County Enterprise Board (CEB) provides support for small businesses with 10 employees or fewer in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level, with priority being given to manufacturing and internationally traded services. CEBs recognise that business growth and job creation are inherent considerations in their activities. While their primary function is to promote enterprise, CEBs can support individuals, firms and community groups provided they have the capacity to achieve commercial viability which is vital to job creation.

In 2010, Meath CEB provided €230,515 in financial assistance to 32 projects and provided training to 366 participants. In addition, there were 883 jobs existing in CEB assisted enterprises at the end of 2010. During 2011, Meath CEB will continue to be actively involved in the area of economic development and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development.