James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

314. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the plans, if any, he has for job creation in the Longford/ Westmeath area; if he has plans to set up an inter-agency for the midlands and put a focus on the midlands to assist in job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22701/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The 2013 Action Plan published by the Government in February, sets out a series of measures to support job creation and retention during 2013. The enterprise development agencies under the aegis of my Department are at the forefront of implementing the Action Plan for Jobs across all our regions, including the Longford/Westmeath area. Against this policy background, and as previously outlined to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 292 on Tuesday 18 December 2012, I consider that it is not practicable or effective to establish jobs task forces, except in exceptional circumstances, having regard to the State's current limited resources. In 2012, 1,557 people were employed on a full time basis in Enterprise Ireland (EI) client companies in Co. Longford (an increase of 46 from 2011) and 2,352 people were employed on a full time basis in EI client companies in Co. Westmeath (an increase of 171 from 2011). In 2012, €1.33 million was paid by EI to companies in Co. Longford and €1.01 million was paid to companies in Westmeath for job creation and retention and business development purposes. To date in 2013, EI has held/launched: An Export Awareness Event in Athlone through its new Potential Exporters Division and a Call for Proposals under the Midlands Competitive Feasibility Fund. Nine applicants – including one from Longford and four from Westmeath - were successful in winning funding and are currently progressing with their start-ups. This new Fund provides funding of up to €25,000 per project. The 2013 New Frontiers Programme is currently underway. 14 start-up companies participated in the 2012 Programme receiving targeted financial support of €15,000 per start-up.

For IDA Ireland, the key sectors of focus for the midlands Region are Life Sciences, Information and Communications Technologies and High Value Services Activities. The Region currently facilitates the presence of a large number of multinational companies who have invested over the years, span multiple sectors and employ significant amounts of people. In addition to attracting new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), IDA also works closely with its existing client companies with a view to getting them to upgrade and consolidate their existing businesses. Longford and Westmeath County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) can, subject to certain eligibility criteria, also support individuals, firms and community groups employing less than ten people, provided that the proposed projects have the capacity to achieve commercial viability. In 2012, Longford CEB paid out over €250,000 in grant assistance to 31 projects and 585 people participated in Longford CEB assisted training courses, while Westmeath CEB paid out over €460,000 in grant assistance to 36 projects and 718 people participated in Westmeath CEB assisted training courses.

An important action, in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013 is the creation of a First-Stop-Shop at local level for the support of small and micro business will bring local enterprise support into an integrated national network of Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) delivering enterprise policy to the highest standards, offering seamless progression for small business with potential to the existing national programmes run by EI, such as the dlands Competitive Feasibility Fund. Pending the introduction of the LEOs, Longford and Westmeath CEBs will continue to support Enterprise Development in their areas and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development at county level. As the Deputy will also be aware, my Department recently introduced two targeted National Schemes to support an additional flow of credit to SMEs; namely the croenterprise Loan Fund and the Credit Guarantee Scheme. These schemes will support business investment, job maintenance and job creation around the country. Work on facilitating access to finance for all viable businesses remains a priority under Action Plan for Jobs 2013.