Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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98. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry will be promoted to potential investors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33767/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The property mentioned is not under the ownership of IDA Ireland. IDA Ireland is aware, however, of the availability of this property and has included it on its property database of available office and manufacturing properties in Co. Kerry. This database is used to identify possible properties which might be suited to potential client needs. In County Kerry as a whole there are 12 IDA Ireland client companies employing 1,874 people in full and part time employment.

We are determined that every region will benefit from the recovery. Growing both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and indigenous enterprise is key to Ireland’s economic recovery. In February, the Government announced details of the Action Plan for Jobs: Regionalinitiative which seeks to capitalise on the strengths and assets of each region to maximise enterprise growth and job creation. The initiative will build on the success of the National Action Plan for Jobs, and encourage regional stakeholders - including enterprise agencies, Local Authorities, higher education institutions, other public bodies and the private sector - to come forward with innovative ideas to boost job creation in their own region.

In addition to a €150 million property investment programme for the IDA, up to €100 million will be available to Enterprise Ireland to support entrepreneurs and enterprise growth in the regions. Three new competitive calls will be announced this year by Enterprise Ireland at regional level. The first will focus on community-driven enterprise initiatives, the second will focus on new ideas emerging from the LEOs and a third, broader, competitive regional call will support significant projects or initiatives to improve or leverage identified enterprise capability in the region.

Kerry has traditionally established itself as a centre for foreign manufacturing companies but has seen a number of downsizings/closures in recent years. It has however attracted a number of services companies (e.g. JRI America, Enercon, etc.) and has a strong cluster of well-established indigenous companies.

Earlier this year IDA Ireland launched its 5 year strategy for the period 2015 to 2019 which aims to create 80,000 new jobs in the economy over the period and increase investment into each region by between 30% and 40%.

As the Deputy is aware, officials of my Department and its agencies are actively engaged with regional stakeholders in the development of individual Action Plans for each of the regions, including the South West Region, which was launched on 3 July 2015. Counties Kerry and Cork make up the South West Region.