Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware of the impact of the winding-down of construction on the Corrib gas field on employment in County Mayo; if he has engaged with the agencies in the area on a transition plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2090/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Corrib Gas Field is part of the Erris Peninsula – a Gaeltacht area – and falls within the remit of Údarás na Gaeltachta. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) exists since 2009 between Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta in relation to areas of cooperation and coordination between the two agencies. As part of this MOU I understand that:

- The Corrib Gas Field refinery will employ 175 full-time equivalents when fully operational;

- Údarás has held meetings with Shell (Erris Development Fund) where upskilling/retraining programmes were discussed. A training programme for 24 welding apprentices is currently being finalised;

- Údarás has provided administration space for Shell in Belmullet over a number of years where approximately fifty staff are employed. It is expected that this figure will grow or at least remain constant into the future;

- Údarás, in conjunction primarily with SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) and other partners, have been seeking employment opportunities in the renewable energy sphere. Small projects are now beginning to materialise and provide cost saving benefits for the community and provide local jobs.

As part of the West Action Plan for Jobs which was launched last November, IDA Ireland are supporting 18 companies in Co. Mayo employing roughly 4,000 people in total. IDA is currently undertaking a property investment programme, amounting to €150m over five years, in support of further job creation in regional locations. The agency has obtained planning permission to construct an Advanced Technology Building facility in Castlebar in 2016.

One of the specific actions of the Plan is the involvement that Enterprise Ireland will have with Westport Multi-agency Enterprise Ltd to open the new enterprise centre in Westport. Also, the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) will disburse over €3 million in grant funding, and provide mentoring support to over 1,000 businesses per year.

This is a positive development for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the regions, including Mayo, allowing such locations to compete with locations internationally.

I am convinced that with the right support from Government through the West Plan, and by continuing the collaborative approach right across the region, we can deliver 25,000 extra jobs over the coming years.