Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2017
76. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA sponsored visits in each of the years 2015 to 2016 and to date in 2017, by county; and the IDA's strategy to ensure there is an equitable distribution of visits among counties. [34271/17]
View answerThe following table sets out the number of site visits, on a county-by-county basis, for 2015 and 2016. Information on site visits in 2017 is currently only available for the first three months of the year.
The IDA is very much committed to increasing regional development. That is why the Agency has targeted a minimum increase in investment of 30% to 40% in each region outside of Dublin by the conclusion of its current strategy in 2019. Progress is being made towards that goal – in 2016 over half of all IDA Ireland supported jobs created were based outside of Dublin.
Site visits do represent an important tool in attracting investment and the IDA does its utmost to ensure that investors consider all potential locations. Determining which particular sites may be attractive to a client depends very much on the particular requirements of the company concerned. Factors that are habitually important to overseas investors include the suitability of local infrastructure, the proximity of transport hubs and the availability of skilled talent. It is often the case as well that multinational companies seek to base themselves as close as possible to businesses operating in the same industry.
The IDA always encourages clients to locate in areas that are most in need of investment. I am determined that this approach will continue so that the benefits of FDI are increasingly felt all across Ireland. We have to remember, however, that the ultimate decision as to where to invest is always taken by the company itself.
IDA Ireland Site Visits by County 2015, 2016 and Q1 2017
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
Q1 2017 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
9 |
3 |
|
Cavan |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Clare |
12 |
18 |
10 |
|
Cork |
48 |
49 |
9 |
|
Donegal |
5 |
7 |
1 |
|
Dublin |
242 |
284 |
82 |
|
Galway |
41 |
42 |
23 |
|
Kerry |
6 |
3 |
1 |
|
Kildare |
7 |
8 |
2 |
|
Kilkenny |
10 |
10 |
2 |
|
Laois |
4 |
6 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
8 |
8 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
40 |
49 |
10 |
|
Longford |
2 |
6 |
0 |
|
Louth |
20 |
24 |
5 |
|
Mayo |
3 |
5 |
0 |
|
Meath |
7 |
8 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
8 |
4 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Sligo |
15 |
20 |
2 |
|
Tipperary |
12 |
8 |
5 |
|
Waterford |
31 |
17 |
3 |
|
Westmeath |
28 |
32 |
9 |
|
Wexford |
4 |
7 |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
7 |
5 |
1 |
|
Total |
565 |
638 |
173 |
