DAIL QUESTION
NO. 89
To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created through foreign direct investment throughout County Kildare; the number of indigenous jobs created in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.
* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 10th July, 2014.
Ref No: 30602/14
R E P L Y
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Mr Bruton)
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies. The survey shows that during 2013 a total of 276 new jobs were created in IDA Ireland client companies in Co. Kildare bringing total IDA Ireland supported employment in the county up to 10,172. On the indigenous side, there were 1,471 new jobs created in Enterprise Ireland client companies in Kildare during the year bringing the total Enterprise Ireland supported employment in the county up to 6,520.
It is estimated that for every 10 jobs created in IDA Ireland client companies 7 jobs are created in the wider economy in supply and service businesses, while on the indigenous side the comparable figure is that for every job created in an Enterprise Ireland client company roughly 1.3 jobs are created in the wider economy.
As the Deputy is aware, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is, and will continue to be, an integral part of Ireland’s economic development strategy. Among the actions for developing and deepening the impact of FDI in Ireland, set out in the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs was the commitment that my Department, in conjunction with Forfás, would complete and publish an FDI Policy Statement, setting out the strategic policy direction to 2020, by end Q2. I am glad to say that this work is now nearing completion.
As a precursor to its work on the FDI policy statement I requested Fofás earlier this year to conduct an in-depth analysis of Ireland’s FDI strategy, in light of a changing global environment to take account of factors such as key trends emerging in FDI best practice internationally, Ireland’s strengths in attracting FDI and any changes to the EU’s State Aid Rules, which came into effect on 1st July 2014. The results of this detailed analysis together with the Broader FDI Policy statement will form the basis of IDA’s new strategy from end of 2015 onwards.
Additionally, the 2014 APJ includes a commitment to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of the enterprise development agencies and other regional stakeholders in supporting enterprises.
My intention is that the framework will be developed on a pilot basis initially, based on the Midlands region, and focusing, in particular, on co-ordinating the efforts of the agencies under the remit of my own Department €“ Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, as well as the new Local Enterprise Offices. The overarching objective of the framework is to enhance synergies between the agencies, their client companies and other key stakeholders to maximise the potential for job creation in the region. My Department’s officials are currently developing the Regional Enterprise Strategy Framework in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Fofás.
The pilot framework will identify the key assets and competitive strengths of the Midlands region, as well as looking at opportunities for sectoral development. My aim is that the pilot framework for the Midlands will serve as a model for other regions of the country.