Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

100. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding job creation in County Louth by job creation agencies since 2011; the number of visits by companies by location for each such year to date; the jobs created by location and the State grants offered to each such company; the number and size of available premises already existing and known to the job creating agencies by location; if the agencies or his Department have identified the need to construct new premises to assist job creation in specific locations in County Louth; the timetable for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34991/14]

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

Details of the numbers of jobs created and lost in companies supported by the enterprise development agencies are tracked by the Forfás Annual Employment Survey. Data is gathered on an annual basis and aggregated at county level. Details in respect of individual companies are not provided as companies supply information to the Survey on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only.

The Survey shows that in the 3 year period 2011 to 2013, inclusive, there were a total of 2,317 new jobs created by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland client companies in County Louth. The Survey shows that at the end of 2013, there were a total of 2,299 people employed in IDA Ireland client companies and 5,032 people employed in Enterprise Ireland client companies in the county, in all a total of 7,331 full and part time jobs. Details of the number of jobs created in each of the years in companies supported by IDA Ireland and by Enterprise Ireland are set out in the following Tabular Statement A.

In the same three year period, IDA Ireland paid a total of €6,234,251 in grant aid to its client companies in County Louth, while Enterprise Ireland paid out €7,830,664 grant aid to its clients in the county. Details of the amount of grant paid in the county by each individual agency in each of the three years 2011 to 2013, inclusive is set out in the following Tabular Statement B.

In the same three year period there were a total of 42 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Louth. As Enterprise Ireland’s core focus is supporting the internationalisation of indigenous companies the Agency does not arrange site visits of a type similar to IDA Ireland. Details of the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Louth in respect of each of the years in question are set out in the following Tabular Statement C.

In relation to property solutions, IDA Ireland’s Finnibar Business Park in Dundalk has been developed to flagship standard. There are three buildings each of 30,000 sq ft on the park. All the buildings are partially occupied with space available for marketing. In addition, the Agency has developed a major land bank in Mullagharlin to the south of the town and to aid the marketing of the property has obtained advance planning permission for 2 generic Bio Pharma facilities and ancillary offices on the site. IDA Ireland has also developed a 63 acre site in Drogheda and constructed a 23,000 sq.ft office building on the park. This building is occupied by IFS (International Fund Services).

IDA Ireland is currently developing a new corporate strategy and as part of this and the objective of enhancing competitiveness and retaining and winning investment, IDA Ireland is reviewing the availability of additional appropriate property solutions in regional locations.

In terms of infrastructure, Enterprise Ireland has supported five Enterprise Centres in County Louth, which include the Science Services Centre at Finnabair Business Park, the Creative Spark Enterprise Centre on the Inner relief road at Muirhevnamor and more recently The Mill Enterprise Hub in Drogheda. The Regional Development Centre at Dundalk Institute of Technology is funded by Enterprise Ireland and provides Incubatees with a range of entrepreneurial supports at a vital stage of early start up, with support and mentoring for knowledge based start-up companies.

As the Deputy will be aware, on 15 April last the new Local Enterprise Offices replaced the City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs) as the primary source of support for small and micro enterprises across the country. The new service means that national enterprise policy and local business supports have been brought together to strengthen the local business culture and environment, combining the best of the former County and City Enterprise Boards and the Local Authorities, overseen by the Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland.

The LEOs are the first stop shop front line service assisting in delivering business growth and jobs. They provide both financial and soft supports, and pull together all the players – other Government Departments and Agencies - to support everyone with a good business idea, strengthen the enterprise sector in the local area and, ultimately, support the delivery of more jobs within their County area.

Statistics show that in 2013, the Louth CEB supported clients with 850 full time employees, while the corresponding figure for 2012 was 866 and for 2011 was 895. I should point out that the basis for calculating job creation numbers in the LEOs has been revised by Enterprise Ireland and will be operational from 2014 onwards.

The LEOs do not have any responsibility for organising company visits nor for sourcing accommodation for premises in their County. However, LEO Louth, as with all other LEOs, are currently finalising the Local Enterprise Development Plan for this County, which will incorporate the support they will be providing with the Local Authority in establishing an Economic Development Strategy for the County which would identify a range of suitable locations to facilitate businesses in a wide range of sectors.

TABLE A

Table showing the number of jobs created in IDA Ireland companies in each of the three years 2011, 2012 and 2013