Written answers

Thursday, 21 July 2011

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation

State Agencies

7:00 pm

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a request by the Industrial Development Agency for an exemption from the recruitment embargo for the purposes of appointing a new IDA north west regional manager; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22562/11]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the date on which his Department received a request from the Industrial Development Agency for an exemption from the recruitment embargo for the purposes of appointing a new IDA north west regional manager; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22563/11]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together.

IDA is an autonomous Agency set up by statute with a mandate to attract foreign direct investment in manufacturing and internationally-traded service industries into Ireland, and to support new and existing FDI operations so as to maximise the related industrial employment, output, exports, economy expenditures including wages, and corporation tax contributions.

As with all Departments and agencies, the total number of staff employed by IDA is not fixed varies from time to time depending on the resources available to Government and the requirements of the Agency. In recent times, the Government's financial position is of course particularly difficult, and a moratorium on the filling of vacancies arising in all Departments, Offices and agencies has been in operation since early 2009. At present, a comprehensive review of all Government expenditure is in train for completion later this year and to inform Government decisions on spending, including on staff numbers in Departments and agencies, in 2012 and later years.

Against this background, the Government is however determined to facilitate the delivery of the industrial employment and other targets in the current IDA Strategy. To achieve this, IDA is amongst those who have been approved, through consultation with my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in recent times to fill mission-critical vacancies that would otherwise have remained vacant under the moratorium.

The allocation of IDA staff to the various locations throughout the country and worldwide is a day to day operational matter for the Agency and not one in which I have a function. I understand from the IDA that it's Letterkenny office is not closing. IDA has sought Department of Finance sanction for a new North West Regional Manager. In Letterkenny, IDA will maintain its office and staff employed there. IDA will continue to maintain two offices in the North West region.

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