Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs in companies currently in County Meath that are being supported by Industrial Development Authority grants; the companies involved and their location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19200/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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At present there are 15 IDA Ireland supported companies in Meath employing approximately 735 staff in permanent positions and an additional 116 staff in other positions. This data is broken down by town, in the tabular statement.

Note

The above figures exclude the 210 staff employed by International Fund Services at Donore, Drogheda – though located in Co. Meath, these have been recorded by the Forfas Annual Labour Survey in the Co. Louth returns. Additionally, a management buy-out of IDA client company De Royal in Kells in 2009 saw the jobs reclassified in Enterprise Ireland rather than IDA job figures. The company currently employs close to 300 staff in Kells.

IDA's Strategy for County Meath is as follows:

· To progress the development of a knowledge economy in order that the county can compete both nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment.

· To continue to target Greenfield and Expansion projects in Financial Services and International Services and ICT for the Meath area.

· To encourage increased cooperation between foreign direct investment companies and the third level institutions, for example, University College Maynooth.

· To work with the existing client base in the county and to expand their presence there.

· To work with Local Authorities and relevant infrastructure providers to influence the delivery of appropriate infrastructure to the county.

· To utilize resources of institutions both within and outside the county in presenting the advantages of Navan and Co. Meath as a location, for example, NUI Maynooth, Navan Chamber of Commerce, Meath County Council/Economic Development Manager, Eircom/Enet and so forth.

· The marketing of landbanks (IDA Navan and Donore Business Parks), Office and Industrial facilities.

This very active programme has already yielded results. Companies such as Lir Chocolates have relocated to the IDA business park in Navan and PNC, a leading financial services company, employs approximately 55 at a facility in Navan Town Centre.

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the plans he has to develop innovation hubs in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19201/11]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I have been informed by Enterprise Ireland that the agency has 175 client companies in Meath employing 4,109 people on a full time basis and 689 on a contract/part-time basis. Since 2008 Enterprise Ireland has made payments of approximately €9.5m to 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, 80 Innovation Vouchers were awarded to companies in Meath to the value of €400,000. These Vouchers allow small Irish companies to access innovative solutions provided by Third Level Colleges. The Voucher gives small companies the financial support to embark on a process of continuous innovation.

Enterprise Ireland co-ordinates business start up workshops on a nationwide basis called EnterpriseSTART. In the Dublin – Mid East region it is delivered over two afternoons for potential entrepreneurs with a desire to start technology or knowledge intensive businesses with good export potential. It provides them with an overview of what is required to start a business and tests their business idea. A workshop will be held in Ashbourne, Co Meath towards the end of July this year. It is anticipated that about 20 potential entrepreneurs will participate. Employment in Enterprise Ireland supported companies in Meath

Forfas Employment Figs 2010

The position in relation to IDA activities in County Meath is set out in a separate reply today to Deputy Hannigan.