Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

155. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which job opportunities in the services and manufacturing sectors remain bright for County Kildare and the country at large over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43860/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland’s labour market has shown remarkable resilience given the challenges Ireland has faced in recent years, including Brexit, the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and global inflationary pressures.

According to the most recent employment figures from the CSO’s Labour Force Survey, published in August 2024, total employment in Ireland across all sectors including manufacturing and services stood at 2.74 million in the second quarter of 2024, an annual gain of nearly 71,000 jobs compared to the same period last year. The Mid-East region, including County Kildare, saw nearly 6,000 additional jobs created over the same period, with total employment in the region increasing from 399,900 to 405,600.

This record-breaking labour market performance reflects the continuing success of Ireland’s enterprise policy in sustaining and expending employment. To ensure that this momentum is maintained, my Department published the White Paper on Enterprise in December 2022, which sets out Government`s enterprise policy for the period through to 2030. The White Paper on Enterprise details how we will deliver on our ambition of a vibrant, resilient, regionally balanced and sustainable economy made up of a diversified mix of leading global companies, internationally competitive Irish enterprises and thriving local businesses. In particular, it seeks to ensure the continued creation of opportunities for rewarding jobs and livelihoods across Ireland.

Agencies under the auspices of my Department are playing a vital role in developing this attractive business environment and strong value proposition and provide a comprehensive range of supports for job creation and sustainable economic growth in County Kildare and across the country.

Enterprise Ireland offers financial support and grant aid to high-potential companies in Kildare that demonstrate the capacity for rapid growth and entry into export markets. This support is crucial for stimulating job creation and economic development in the region. There were 555 jobs created in Kildare in 2023 by 158 Enterprise Ireland assisted companies. Total employment within Enterprise Ireland assisted companies in the county was 9,436 in 2023, with employment growth for the year of 2%.

The Kildare Local Enterprise Office provides services directly to small businesses, promotes entrepreneurship and contributes to jobs growth within towns and communities across the county. Last year, LEO Kildare financially assisted 268 small businesses which helped them to support 1,309 jobs. LEO Kildare also provides assistance to small businesses to further develop and grow, through tailored training, development, and mentoring supports.

Over the last four years, Kildare County Council and LEO Kildare have led on a number of hub developments around County Kildare, supporting entrepreneurship, enterprise creation, innovation, decarbonisation, town centre renewal, digitalisation, and fostering strong entrepreneurial communities and local employment.

Ireland continues to be recognised as a highly attractive location for Foreign Direct Investment. However, Government does not take our success to date for granted. The Government is committed to ensuring the right polices are in place to facilitate the development of appropriate skills, infrastructure, and innovation to facilitate strong levels of FDI into the future, and My Department will continue to work closely with IDA Ireland to ensure a continuous flow of investment into Ireland.

Nationally, and despite a difficult global economic environment, total employment in IDA client companies in Ireland in 2023 was above 300,000 jobs for the second consecutive year. Job growth was recorded across all sectors. In total, 248 FDI investments were won by IDA in 2023, of which 83 were new name investments.

There are currently 45 IDA client companies in County Kildare, employing 11,909 people, with a total of 118 IDA client companies employing 20,429 people across the broader Mid-East region. Counties in the Mid-East also benefit hugely from the direct and indirect employment generated by IDA client companies located in Dublin. The Mid-East has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Technology, Life Sciences and Biopharma, International Financial Services and Engineering and Industrial Technologies. It has also won significant investment in the Food and Film sub-sectors.

Significant agency announcements in County Kildare over last two years include:

• Keurig Dr Pepper, September 2024 (Manufacturing): Keurig Dr Pepper announced plans to invest €6.44 million in its beverage production hub in Newbridge.
• INIT, May 2024 (Services): INIT is a leading supplier of IT solutions for public transport and will expand its headcount by thirty in Maynooth, bringing the total number employed to 60.
• Intel Ireland, September 2023 (Manufacturing): Intel’s Fab 34 officially opened at their Leixlip campus. This expansion will lead to a doubling of Intel’s manufacturing space in Ireland, creating 1,600 Jobs in Leixlip.
• Diageo, July 2022 (Manufacturing): Diageo will open the first purpose-built carbon neutral brewery in €200 million investment resulting in fifty jobs in Newbridge.
• Keurig Dr Pepper, June 2022 (Manufacturing): Keurig Dr Pepper opened a new International Operations hub in Newbridge, creating 20 new jobs bringing to 100 the total number employed on site.
• MGS Manufacturing Group, April 2022: A global provider of healthcare manufacturing solutions, MGS committed to investing €7m to expand their plant located in Kildare Innovation Campus, creating 100 Jobs in Leixlip.