Enterprise funding for country down two-thirds last year

Spending in county Cavan by Enterprise Ireland and by the Industrial Development Agency dropped by almost two-thirds between 2010 and 2011, new figures have revealed. Whereas, in 2009 and in 2010, Enterprise Ireland were seen to pump in the region of €8.4m and €9.5m into the county, in 2011, for which the most recent figures are available, only €3.3m was made available. Much of the drop though is reflected in the the fact that payments under the temporary Employment Subsidy Scheme and the Enterprise Stabilisation Fund terminated in 2010. Meanwhile, IDA invested significantly less, only €689,164 in the North East region in 2011 - down more than half on both the previous years. Despite this, County Manager Jack Keyes maintains that the involvement of the IDA in the region remains a "vital" one. Having forced the IDA into a somewhat embarrassing u-turn in its recent attempts to sell its sit at Killygarry on the Dublin Road, for which there is planning permission for an 'Advance Technology Factory', Mr Keyes denied the IDA were now mere reluctant partners. Together, both he and the IDA have already conducted one of a series of round-table discussions aimed at generating greater business interest in the county. "In fairness to the IDA, they have said and have been quite open about their approach, that they are focused on promoting the gateways, and Cavan is a hub of that. But we must influence that positively and our meetings with the IDA are about teasing out a course of action going forward," he said. Mr Keyes added he did not think the upcoming reform of local government and the integration of County Enterprise Boards into local authority remit would affect their plans, saying " there is clarity in that we have ensured that the land at Killygarry remains in public ownership". "It is as vital to make sure we have the land and the facilities in place if we have any chance of attracting new investment, or assisting in the further development of industry in the county," he said.