Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2019
383. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits to IDA sites across Roscommon town and Ballinasloe in 2016, 2017 and 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23774/19]
View answerThe IDA's performance in 2018 reflects the 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.
County Galway witnessed an 8% increase in employment by IDA client companies in 2018. FDI levels in County Roscommon also moved in a positive direction last year, with a 3% increase in IDA client-supported employment.
Data on IDA Ireland site visits is collated on a county by county basis. Information on site visits to specific locations - including individual towns - is therefore unavailable. Whilst site visits do remain an important tool in helping showcase regional locations 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.
The following table provides details of IDA site visits to Counties Roscommon and Galway between 2016 and Q1 2019:
|
County |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
Q1 2019 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Galway |
42 |
62 |
54 |
9 |
