Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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154. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will direct that a dedicated jobs plan, similar to the one in place for the south east, would be put in place for County Kerry, in view of the economic crisis in the county, the total lack of FDI in recent years, the loss of large employers such as Amann Industries, Aetna, Glen Dimplex, Sara Lee without a Government led response, the significant unemployment and emigration problem, the unfavourable tax regime to attract FDI compared to our neighbours in County Limerick, the distortion of FDI performance figures for Kerry by being included with Cork, the poor road access to the county from Cork via the substandard Ovens to Ballyvourney road and from Limerick via delays at Adare, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23140/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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On foot of the job losses announced by the Talk Talk company in Waterford in September 2011, I asked the agencies and stakeholders in the South East region with coming up with a set of actions to address the long-standing unemployment problem in Waterford and the region generally. The specific recommendations contained in the South East Employment Action Plan, produced by Forfas, are being progressed by a Forum representing the agencies and key stakeholders in the region.

The unemployment rate in the region has remained stubbornly high and has been consistently above the national average for many years. I believe the problem is particularly pronounced in Waterford County and City. The number of unemployment blackspots in Waterford has remained constant in the period 1996-2006 whereas other urban areas such as Dublin and Cork have seen sharp decreases. It is clear that the solution to this problem requires focused action.

A number of positive developments have followed on foot of this initiative including a number of significant jobs announcements for the South East e.g. the Eishtec Call Centre in Waterford city created 280 Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs; a further 65 Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs new jobs were created by Dawn Meats as a result of a 5 year €300m contract with McDonald's restaurants; the two local Waterford City and County Enterprise Boards have created 59 new jobs; and Danone Baby Nutrition in Wexford announced an investment of €20m in its manufacturing facility which will create around 45 new jobs at its plant.

I met with the Forum on 28 March last in Waterford to hear about further progress made by agencies and stakeholders in the region, and to discuss how we can move forward on outstanding actions and other challenges.

Notwithstanding the success of this initiative, I consider that it is neither practicable nor effective to establish jobs task forces or specific jobs plans around the country as a general mechanism to address high unemployment. I believe that to embark on such a course would involve diverting the various State Agencies from their on-going efforts to create jobs. A considerable administrative commitment is involved in servicing any additional committees and groups which may be set up and, given the constrained staff resources facing all public sector bodies at present, I am strongly of the opinion that establishing such additional groups, except in very exceptional circumstances, would not be in the best interests of using the State's resources effectively.

Although the county has seen a number of company closures IDA Ireland continues to compete for high quality investments for Kerry. At the end of2012 there were 12 IDA Ireland supported companies in Kerry with total employment of circa 1,600 people. IDA will continue to engage with these companies in respect of operational sustainability, job retention and, in certain cases, expansion opportunities.

Enterprise Ireland activity in Co. Kerry is focussed on the creation of new jobs through supporting entrepreneurs to set up new High Potential Start-Up Companies. In 2012, there were 132 Enterprise Ireland-supported companies in Co. Kerry, employing 3,318 people in a full time basis and a further 132 on contract or part time employment.

All the State enterprise agencies will continue to actively pursue initiatives to facilitate development and job creation in Co. Kerry.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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155. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if it is possible for his Department to support an incubation unit project to create jobs at the Clonshaugh Industrial Estate, Dublin, to replicate an enterprise centre for the northside of Dublin similar to the Guinness enterprise centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23268/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department through Enterprise Ireland has, in the past, approved funding towards Community Enterprise Centres in Dublin, including centres at Ballymun, Coolock and Darndale.

I am informed by Enterprise Ireland that based on the most recent information that the agency has on occupancy rates that Darndale is at full occupancy, while Coolock and Ballymun are at 75% occupancy. However, as tenancy levels are variable, Enterprise Ireland advises that interested parties should contact the relevant centre directly, as they have the best view of upcoming availability.

Enterprise Ireland's Incubation Unit Programme is campus based and there are a number of incubation units in the Universities and Institutes of Technology in North Dublin such as, DCU Invent on DCU's campus; Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown and National College of Ireland, in the IFSC. Enterprise Ireland has advised that these Incubation Centres tend to be close-to-full in terms of occupancy. In these circumstances, interested parties should contact the relevant incubation centre directly for information on the future availability of enterprise space.

If however, the individual concerned wishes to start a micro-enterprise in Clonshaugh, he should contact Dublin City Enterprise Board which promotes the establishment of micro-enterprises (i.e. enterprises employing less than 10 persons); provides financial support to viable projects, and provides business advice and training. Dublin City Enterprise Board can be contacted at for information and advice.

The Board also promotes enterprise space that it is aware of in its area and a map of the incubation centres that the Board are promoting is available at: