60 state-backed jobs in first six months of Project Kelvin

This compares to offers of assistance to projects promoting 469 new jobs in the 12 months leading up to the completion of the Project Kelvin transatlantic telecommunication cable.

The Sentinel asked the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETINI) how many jobs the state had backed since Project Kelvin with its associated access point at Fort George went live.

A spokesman stated: “Between 23rd November 2010 and 31st May 2011, Invest NI approved offers of assistance to projects, promoting 60 new jobs in the City Council area of Londonderry.”

He advised 469 jobs had been promoted by projects receiving assistance from Invest NI over the 12 months prior to Project Kelvin going live.

The paper also asked how many state-backed firms and projects had connected into the co-location centre at Fort George and how many jobs had been created.

But the spokesman said that companies involved with Project Kelvin were the responsibility of Hibernia Atlantic.

Meanwhile a spokeswoman for Invest NI claimed success in securing new jobs for the city recently.

“Invest NI has secured important investments for the North West, including the 300 job Rigney Dolphin project, and has worked to increase visits by potential investors. We are also currently in the negotiation stage with new projects which intend to locate in the North West.

“Invest NI continues to support a wide range of business development activities for businesses, having provided assistance to over 500 projects in the North West last year.

“In October 2010, a working group of key economic stakeholders was established and it meets regularly to discuss inward investment, trade, business start-ups and infrastructure in Londonderry,” the spokeswoman advised the paper.