You asked for information regarding Fermanagh District Council's policy on attracting inward investment. Please find below the Council's response:

1.  THE COUNCIL'S POLICY ON ATTRACTING INWARD INVESTMENT

  Fermanagh District Council has four primary roles. One of these is a development role—to act as an enabler/facilitator on matters of economic and community development. To that end the Council recently produced a new integrated strategy for the County entitled, "People and Place—Fermanagh Integrated County Development Strategy 2010". I have attached a copy of the strategy for your perusal[2]. The vision for the Jobs, Employment and Training section of the strategy is: "To promote, enhance and sustain a thriving integrated business base in Fermanagh with access to quality jobs that respects the environment and the community". In terms of inward investment, one of the strategic objectives of the document is: "to continue to promote Fermanagh as an attractive investment opportunity and to lobby for continued investment by lead government agencies for indigenous industries".

  Fermanagh already has 29 IDB client companies employing over 3,000 people in the County. These companies cover a wide range of sectors including: food, engineering, packaging, plastics and crafts.

  The Council is also involved in "Into the West" Ltd. This company was set up to undertake the consortium activities of the combined groupings of the District Councils in LEDU's western region (that is, Fermanagh and Tyrone) in conjunction with LEDU's western office on all aspects of economic development. Into the West seeks to encourage the development of small businesses in the counties of Fermanagh and Tyrone by encouraging former residents to return home and set up business in their home area.

2.  PREFERENCES RE INWARD INVESTMENT

  Whilst Fermanagh has no preference regarding the type of inward investment attracted, one of the flagship projects in the Council's County Development Strategy of 1995-99 was the development of the Intec Centre. The Interactive Technology Centre was developed in order to create a focus point for:

—  Trade Development;

—  Inward Investment;

—  Marketing and Business Support;

—  Education and Training opportunities;

—  Access to Research and Development Facilities.

  The Centre is due to open its new premises in March 2000 which will provide an economic and technological centre of excellence for the county. It will provide people with information, advice and guidance, access to telecommunications, computers and multi-media. It is anticipated that as a result technology businesses will be encouraged to invest in the area. British Telecom already have a back-office investment in Enniskillen with 300 staff serving central London enquiries, KITE, Northern Ireland's only Telecottage is based in Fermanagh and Interweave, an American company recently invested here, creating software jobs.

3.  TSN

  The land zoned for industrial use is located in the three major towns in the County, Enniskillen, Lisnaskea and Irvinestown. The policy of the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland is to hold land in the principal town for each district for development by IDB or LEDU supported companies. Therefore land is zoned for industrial use in consultation with the IDB. In terms of deprivation Robson's statistics indicate Fermanagh District Council is the sixth most deprived of the 26 Local Authority areas in terms of degree, fifth in terms of intensity and third in relation to extent. To that end IDB has said: "The area is one of a number of Councils designated as disadvantaged for TSN purposes and IDB has the facility to offer enhanced levels of assistance to attract new inward investment to locate in these areas". The Council works very closely with IDB with relative success—having 29 IDB client companies located in the County.

29 February 2000