Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2016
620. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland organised to County Donegal in each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15743/16]
View answerThere were six IDA Ireland-sponsored site visits to Donegal in 2014 and five in 2015. In the first quarter of 2016, there was one visit to the county.
It is important to note that data on site visits is not an accurate measure of the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in a region or county. That is because approximately 70% of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base, rather than new companies.
A prime example of this is the announcement last summer by Pramerica Systems Ireland of its intention to expand its operations in Donegal, with the creation of an additional 330 jobs and the construction of a new business campus.
As Enterprise Ireland’s core focus is supporting the internationalisation of indigenous companies it does not arrange site visits of a similar type to IDA Ireland.
