Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2012
321 Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the two recent reports regarding the Industrial Development Agency’s supported jobs in County Offaly over the past two years and the report showing Offaly to have the second lowest income per head, if he will outline his and the IDA’s proposal for increased activity in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11002/12]
View answerOne of the targets set out in IDA Ireland's Strategy document "Horizon 2020” is the creation of 62,000 direct jobs in 640 investment projects in the period to 2014, which will result in 105,000 new jobs overall in the economy, with 50% of investments being located in areas outside of Dublin and Cork. The Strategy also highlights that IDA Ireland will work with existing client companies operating in Ireland to transform the existing foreign direct investment (FDI) base in order to develop, retain and grow employment in these companies.
Offaly, together with Laois, Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon forms IDA's Midland Region. In line with the National Spatial Strategy, the location of emphasis for IDA in the Midlands Region is the linked Gateway of Tullamore, Athlone and Mullingar, which IDA actively promotes to potential investors through their network of overseas offices.
In County Offaly there are 10 IDA supported companies employing approximately 800 people, while in the region as a whole there are 44 IDA client companies employing 4,600 people.
As Ireland competes for investments at the highest end of the value chain, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading corporations require a significant population of highly qualified talent, essential physical and digital infrastructure coupled with the availability of sophisticated professional support services. There is intense and continual international competition to win FDI, which is mainly dominated by Metro City Regions with populations in excess of 1 million i.e. London, Manchester, Boston and Los Angeles. Ireland has only one Metro City Region, the Greater Dublin area, so, in order to achieve regional economic development, IDA Ireland focuses on marketing Gateway locations within each Region and highlights the opportunities provided by Hub locations which are within commuting distances of these Gateways. In addition, IDA Ireland promotes other locations as part of its marketing efforts in response to specific client requirements.
IDA Ireland has also invested significantly in the development of property solutions in the Midlands Region that can meet the requirements of new and existing FDI clients. IDA Ireland will continue to market the available lands and buildings in the Midlands Gateway. In respect of Co. Offaly, IDA has a fully serviced Business Park in Srah, Tullamore with a number of green field sites available for projects.
Even with intense global competition for FDI and the very difficult global economic environment, there are still investment opportunities in global markets. IDA Ireland has assured me that it will continue to compete vigorously for projects for Ireland, and for the Midlands Region, in order to further the economic development of the Region. It must be remembered, however, that in the final analysis, it is the investor who decides where to locate.
