Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2019
382. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA visits to County Wicklow in each of the past five years; the location of each visit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23570/19]
View answerThe IDA's performance in 2018 reflects the joint emphasis the Agency and the Government have placed on increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) into regional locations. Last year, for example, 56% of all net new jobs created by IDA client firms were in locations outside Dublin. Similarly, every region in Ireland, experienced FDI-supported employment growth. There are now over 132,000 people employed across 681 firms in IDA client companies outside the capital. This amounts to 58% of all IDA-supported employment and represents the highest number of people ever employed in the regions by Agency client companies.
Whilst site visits remain an important tool in helping showcase regional locations – whether in Wicklow or elsewhere – to investors, it is important to remember that the final decision as to where to invest rests solely with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant proportion of all new FDI comes from existing IDA clients already present in the country.
FDI levels in Wicklow are trending in the right direction. The County saw a 17% increase in FDI employment last year, with 388 net new jobs added by IDA client companies. The IDA are working hard to attract further such investment in 2019.
The following table outlines the number of IDA site visits to Wicklow from 2014 through to the first quarter of 2019. Information is not available on the locations of specific visits within the County, on account of IDA client confidentiality.
|
County |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
Q1 2019 |
|
Wicklow |
4 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
