Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
290. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA visits to counties Westmeath and Longford in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the level of IDA-supported jobs in counties Longford and Westmeath on 31 December 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3105/19]
View answerMy Department and its agencies are working towards ambitious targets to ensure that employment and investment are distributed as evenly as possible across the country. I am pleased to say that significant progress is being made with 58% of all IDA employment now outside of Dublin. This represents the highest number of people employed by IDA clients outside of Dublin in the history of the organization. 2018 saw more IDA jobs added in the regions than at any time over the past 17 years.
Counties Westmeath and Longford are both marketed by the IDA as part of the wider Midlands region. There are now 42 multinational companies based in the Midlands, employing 5,720 people. Last year the region reported the highest level of percentage growth in net new foreign direct investment (FDI) jobs nationally, with an increase of 13% in employment by IDA client companies.
County Longford itself saw a 20% increase in IDA client-supported job creation in 2018, with 900 people currently employed in overseas firms. County Westmeath also performed well over that same period with 3,466 people now employed in IDA client firms, an increase of 16% over the 2017 figures.
With regards to site visits, IDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in all counties to its client base. It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to invest always rests with the company concerned.
The tables below outline the number of IDA jobs in Counties Longford and Westmeath from 2016 to 2018 and the number of site visits by IDA client companies from 2016 until the third quarter of 2018. Figures for Q4 2018 will be available later this month.
Table A: Employment in IDA Ireland companies in Longford and Westmeath 2016-2018
|
County |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Westmeath |
2,749 |
2,973 |
3,466 |
|
Longford |
783 |
745 |
900 |
Table B: IDA Ireland site visits to Longford and Westmeath 2016-Q3 2018
|
County |
2016 |
2017 |
Q1 2018 |
Q2 2018 |
Q3 2018 |
|
Westmeath |
36 |
42 |
3 |
9 |
6 |
|
Longford |
6 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
