Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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938. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a company (details supplied) is seeking to relocate jobs within Ireland; if so if a facility in County Kerry has been showcased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26707/16]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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940. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will consider a location in Carrickmacross for a company (details supplied) which has announced it will have to relocate from Dundalk in 2017; if the IDA is showing this building to the company; if she has been in contact with the company on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26756/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 938 and 940 together.

I am unaware of any proposals by the company referenced by Deputy Griffin to relocate its operations. It is also the case that this company announced plans some time ago to further expand its premises in its existing location. However, its sister company in that same town had been considering a possible relocation in Ireland due to the forthcoming expiry of its lease in its current rented accommodation. That latter company did inspect a wide range of premises in various locations, with the active engagement and cooperation of IDA Ireland. Unfortunately, however, the company ultimately decided not to seek an alternative facility and intends to close its operation in its current location.

IDA Ireland will continue its ongoing efforts to secure new investment projects for County Kerry. In relation specifically to Castleisland, an official from the IDA met with Castleisland Chamber Alliance earlier this year to discuss how best to attract foreign direct investment to the town.

With regard to the premises in County Monaghan referred to by Deputy Smyth, IDA Ireland continues to market that building to potential clients.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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939. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts being made by her Department to prioritise the job creation needs in Tallaght, noticing the need to tackle the unemployment situation and to cater for the future generations of young persons who will qualify from the area's school and college system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26739/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The aim of the Government is to ensure that every region can achieve its economic potential and that the benefits of the recovery are felt in every region, county and community in the country. Significant progress has been made in the Dublin region. Since the national Action Plan for Jobs was launched in 2012, more than 76,000 additional people are back at work in Dublin. This compares with job losses of 90,000 in the period 2008 – 2011.

The Action Plan for the Dublin region was launched last January. Successful implementation of the Dublin Plan will see the creation of 66,000 extra jobs in the Dublin region by 2020 and an unemployment level of 6 percent.

Key sectors targeted as part of the plan include areas like technology, financial services, life sciences, manufacturing, tourism and retail as well as “smart cities” and the creative industries.

The Dublin Action Plan is being monitored and driven by an Implementation Committees, comprising representatives from the Enterprise Sector, as well as the Local Authorities, Enterprise Agencies, and other public bodies in the region. Collaboration between the private and the public sector is central to its delivery.

I have met the Dublin Committee recently and was greatly encouraged by the progress already made in the implementation of the Plan. I expect to receive the Committee’s first progress report shortly and the report will be published in Q4 of this year.

Under the Dublin Action Plan, IDA Ireland has committed to delivering 430 additional investments in the years to 2019. IDA Ireland continues to market South County Dublin, including Tallaght and its environs, as a potential location for new foreign direct investment, in order to secure new investment and additional jobs for the region. South County Dublin is well equipped to compete with other areas for potential foreign direct investment, with good infrastructural facilities at Citywest and Grangecastle, and a third level Institute of Technology at Tallaght.

Enterprise Ireland supports job creation in South Dublin, which includes the Tallaght area, through a suite of actions and supports delivered directly and indirectly in collaboration with the many relevant partners in the region. The main focal point for this support in Tallaght is the Local Enterprise Office (LEO).

The LEO South Dublin provides a first stop shop in Tallaght for anyone thinking about self-employment and offers business advice clinics such as start your own business, mentoring, funding, etc. The Tallaght LEO also offers a signposting service for those seeking the support of other agencies such as Intreo, Revenue, County Partnership, County Council, Solas etc. Finally, the LEO also assists those seeking to access funds from Micro Finance Ireland

By supporting SMEs, continuing to attract FDI and providing assistance to start-ups to grow and develop, we will see our recovery take hold which will result in improved standards of living for the people of Dublin. In real terms, what we are aiming for with this project, and what ‘success’ will look like, is about providing more people, particularly young people, with the opportunity to stay, live, and work in the region.