Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 22 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 4

Written Answers. - Regional Development.

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

94 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether the employment targets set in the national development plan for the Border Midland West region can be realised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26666/00]

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

144 Mr. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department has assessed the impact of the current delays in the national development plan on regional development and employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26667/00]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 144 together.

Regional development is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Finance.

My Department, however, is the designated managing authority for two of the operational programmes under the national development plan. These are the productive sector operational programme and the employment and human resources development operational programme.

The key national objectives in the National Development Plan 2000-2006 are continuing sustainable national economic and employment growth; consolidating and improving Ireland's international competitiveness; fostering balanced regional development; and promoting social inclusion.

The productive sector operational programme and the employment and human resources development operational programme will contribute to these national objectives.

The impact of the human resources development operational programme is not expressed in employment terms.

In the case of the productive sector operational programme, the targets for the indigenous sector include such things as achieving higher sales volume, investment in R&D and productivity improvement so as to create and sustain high quality employment.

In the case of foreign direct investment, the focus has also shifted away from the simple objective of job creation numbers and now includes job quality, embeddedness in the economy and a more even geographic distribution of projects and jobs created. In the case of the BMW region an ambitious target has been set to deliver 50% of new greenfield jobs to that area over the plan period.

Notwithstanding the slower than anticipated spend this year, under the productive sector operational programme, I am satisfied that over the full plan period its aims and objectives will be achieved. The activity and spend under the employment and human resources operational programme are on target.