Just 50 of 297 jobs created to date

Jobs Minister Arlene Foster advised the firm intended creating the remainder of the jobs by 2013.

Recently, the Sentinel reported how the two hundred and ninety seven jobs (10.5 per cent of the NI total) were created from Invest NI backed projects in Londonderry last year, the second highest total outside Belfast.

Now the Minister has stated: “Rigney Dolphin were the sole company responsible for promoting the full 297 jobs, which they aim to create by 2013. To date 50 of these jobs have been created all of which are on a permanent full-time basis.”

She outlined the information in response to a query from SDLP MLA Colum Eastwood.

Despite having the second highest number of promoted jobs last year Londonderry had one of the lowest levels of financial assistance granted to companies based here.

Just £2.58m was doled out to firms in Londonderry (2.4 per cent). Only seven other constituency areas across Northern Ireland had lower assistance levels.

These included East Londonderry with £1.54m (1.4 per cent) and West Tyrone with £0.83m (0.8 per cent).

The Minister advised there was also £6.27m of assistance offered to clients who have not yet decided where to locate.