Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2018
34. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to minimise the impact of Brexit in County Donegal; the engagement she has had with the IDA to ensure it secures new investment in the county in view of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16353/18]
View answerI fully appreciate the importance of ensuring that businesses, including those located in Donegal, are best able to withstand the pressures that Brexit may exert. That is why, for example, additional financial resources have been provided to support the strategic response by our enterprise agencies, including IDA Ireland, to Brexit. The Government has also taken forward a number of well documented Brexit-related initiatives to help businesses prepare for the future.
Brexit, or more particularly the response to the challenges it presents, has been especially significant in shaping IDA Ireland's strategy and operations. This includes the Agency's approach to regional development, finance, planning, marketing and promotional activities.
I am very much conscious of the particular difficulties that Brexit could have for border counties and the need to offset those, wherever possible, with increased investment. With regard to Donegal, there are already 12 IDA Ireland client companies based in the County, employing nearly 3,400 people. The level of employment by multinationals in Donegal has actually increased by 52% since 2012 and the IDA is working hard, with both its existing client base there and prospective investors, to create even more jobs there.
While foreign direct investment (FDI) is important to jobs growth in Donegal and elsewhere, we need to remember that it forms only one part of our efforts to generate economic growth in regional locations. Indigenous enterprise also, of course, plays a crucial role in creating employment opportunities. In 2017, for example, 3,552 people were employed in Enterprise Ireland (EI) supported companies in Donegal. In the period from 2015-2017 EI also paid €4 million to client companies in the County to support them to innovate, improve competitiveness and to diversify their global footprint. Like the IDA, EI engages constantly with its clients in Donegal to help support their growth and potential expansion.
Other bodies are working as well to help enterprises in Donegal both grow and plan for Brexit. The Local Enterprise Offices and InterTrade Ireland, for example, are both active in the border area.
