Brendan Griffin
Question:36. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to bring foreign direct investment to County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3179/13]
View answerThursday, 24 January 2013
Questions (36)
Written answers
I am informed by IDA Ireland that, having regard to its statutory responsibility for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Ireland, it will continue to promote Kerry as part of its marketing efforts, in response to specific client queries and also on an opportunistic basis.
At the end of 2012 there were 12 IDA Ireland supported companies in Kerry with total employment of circa 1,600 people. In accordance with its Horizon 2020 Strategy, IDA Ireland continues to engage with these client companies in order to transform the existing FDI base with a view to developing, retaining and growing employment opportunities. This is given particular emphasis in respect of client companies in Kerry, who are located outside of IDA Ireland’s main Gateway locations.
The provision of flexible and cost effective property and infrastructure solutions is a key aspect in developing regional value propositions and in attracting FDI. In this regard IDA Ireland will continue to market all available land and buildings in County Kerry and work with local authorities and property developers to deliver appropriate solutions in response to potential investors’ needs.
IDA Ireland has indicated that, in seeking to win FDI, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading global corporations require a significant population pool, access to qualified talent, world standard physical and digital infrastructure coupled with the availability of a range of professional and business support services. Ireland has only one such Metro Region, the Greater Dublin area, so, in order to achieve balanced regional economic development, the Agency prioritises the marketing of its Gateway locations within each Region e.g. the Gateways in the Mid-West and South West Regions which include Limerick and Cork as the locations of critical mass. However, the Agency also highlights the opportunities provided by other locations such as the linked hubs in County Kerry of Killarney and Tralee on an opportunistic basis, which are within commuting distances of the Gateways.
With continuing enhancement and improvements in physical and digital infrastructure, an FDI project secured for one Gateway can have a positive impact on other Gateways and their surrounding areas. The recent Northern Trust announcement in Limerick, which will create 400 jobs, is a case in point as this announcement will have a positive economic impact, directly and indirectly, on County Kerry.
IDA Ireland has also explained that, typically, a potential investor is shown three or four locations within a Gateway Region that can meet its requirements. In selecting such locations, IDA Ireland endeavours to include locations which have been affected by closures/job losses. However, whilst IDA Ireland seeks to influence the selection of a location, the final decision on where to locate is taken in all cases by the client company based on its business requirements.
Question No. 37 answered with Question No. 16.