Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2018
88. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of regional IDA Ireland site visits in addition to vacant IDA Ireland properties nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30636/18]
View answerThe Government is working to ensure the best possible distribution of foreign direct investment (FDI) across the country. Last year, IDA Ireland delivered 99 regional investments with 45% of new jobs created outside Dublin. The last three years has seen 30,000 new FDI jobs created outside Dublin.
The availability of marketable serviced land and buildings in advance of demand is a key element in the IDA's ability to compete for mobile FDI. Not only does such a supply of properties help the Agency to secure job-rich investment but it also allows projects to begin at an earlier date by diminishing many difficulties associated with land acquisition, planning and construction. It is therefore an important means by which the IDA can encourage and attract new investors to Ireland, particularly to the regions.
I understand that IDA Ireland owns 30 properties across the country. Of these, 13 are currently occupied by IDA clients with a further 17 properties available for prospective or existing investors.
As regards site visits, they remain an important tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas and the IDA always does its utmost to ensure that overseas firms consider all potential locations when visiting Ireland. This is in line with the priority that has been placed on investment outside of our main cities, with the Agency continuing to target an increase in investment of 30% to 40% in every region of the country by the end of its current strategy in 2019.
While site visits can help highlight the benefits of the regions to the IDA's client companies, we need to remember that the final decision as to where to invest always rests with the firm concerned. It is also the case that some companies will only consider investing in urban areas, for a variety of commercial reasons. It should not be forgotten either that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as at least 70% of all new FDI comes from existing IDA client companies.
Excluding Dublin, there has been a total of 66 site visits across Ireland in the first three months of 2018. The IDA will continue to bring new and existing clients to potential investment locations all over the country in the time ahead.
