6 Janaury 2016
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Economic Update
Dara Murphy, The Cork based Junior Minister with responsibility for the EU, says record Enterprise Ireland jobs growth in 2015 signals robust year ahead for Cork businesses.
Dara Murphy TD, Minister for European Affairs, has praised management at Enterprise Ireland and their local staff in Cork and the South-West region for their success in generating a record number of jobs in 2015. Enterprise Ireland supported firms across the country created 21,000 new jobs last year, the highest number ever achieved since the state agency was founded. This translates into a net increase of 10,169 jobs for 2015 in Enterprise Ireland supported firms, taking into account job losses, and brings total employment in these companies to 192,223. Cork accounted for the highest jobs growth outside of Dublin, up 17% and 1750 jobs.
Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central and Europe Minister, Dara Murphy, said:
“Today’s Enterprise Ireland figures, which show that Cork accounted for the highest jobs growth rate outside of Dublin – up 17% and 1750 jobs – confirm that this is a balanced recovery. This upward employment trend on Leeside is set to continue in 2016, as the second city is well positioned to attract further investment from rapidly expanding indigenous firms looking to develop new business opportunities within the existing cluster of leading technology and pharmaceutical multinationals.”
“Enterprise Ireland and its local staff in Cork and the South-West are to be congratulated for their success in generating a record number of jobs in 2015. Enterprise Ireland, in tandem with the Local Enterprise Offices, provide an essential business mentoring and financial support service for Cork startups, as well as helping Irish SMEs to scale up and expand into overseas markets. They are also proactive about supporting women in business, with 60 Enterprise Ireland funded startups in 2015 being led by successful female entrepreneurs.”
File image of Veronica and Minister Murphy
“Bishopstown-based, healthy snack-food company, ‘Veronica’s Snacks’, led by Veronica Kenneally, is one example of an innovative Cork startup catering for the needs of health conscious snack buyers. Cork is also developing an international reputation as a favourite location for online security companies from major multinationals such as TrendMicro and Intel McAfee, to Enterprise Ireland supported cyber and information security company, Smart tech, led by IT@Cork Chairman Ronan Murphy, and Pat Phelan’s online fraud prevention company ‘Trustev’ – one of Enterprise Ireland’s leading showcase companies of 2015.”
