Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 December 2013
117. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits promoted by the Industrial Development Agency of potential investors to Mullingar, County Westmeath for each of the past three years . [54704/13]
View answerI have been informed by IDA Ireland that there were 22 agency sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Westmeath in 2010, 15 in 2011, 7 in 2012 and, to date in 2013, there have been 9 visits. These site visits were from new companies visiting the location for the first time and from senior executives of existing companies.
As Ireland competes for high quality investments, 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 sophisticated professional and business support services. In order to achieve economic regional development, IDA prioritises the marketing of Gateway locations within each Region as the locations of critical mass (i.e. sufficient scale of population, skills, infrastructure, companies, business services etc.) and highlights the opportunities provided by Hub locations which are within commuting distances of these Gateways. With improvements in infrastructure an investment in one town in a region has a positive effect on other towns in the region.
Westmeath is part of IDA Ireland’s Midlands Region along with Counties Longford, Laois, Offaly and Roscommon. In this region IDA prioritises the marketing of the linked Gateway of Athlone/Tullamore/Mullingar.
The Midlands Region, which includes Mullingar, has been particularly successful in recent years in terms of attracting inward investment from FDI companies. At present, there are 44 IDA supported companies in the Midlands region employing over 5,000 people. IDA Ireland has strong relationships with these companies and works closely with them to ensure their long term sustainability and to encourage their growth, development and continuing re-investment in their sites.
We must also remember that it is the investor in all cases who decides where to invest and an investment win for Ireland regardless of the location has to be seen as a plus for the country as a whole.
