Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
127. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits the IDA has carried out in each county in each of the past five years in counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42949/20]
View answer128. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs sponsored by the IDA in each county in each of the past five years in counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42950/20]
View answer129. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount the IDA has invested in job creation in each county in each of the past five years in counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42951/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 128 and 129 together.
The primary responsibility of the IDA is to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Ireland and to retain, transform and expand the existing base of FDI companies that have already invested and located here. IDA Ireland’s strategy, Winning Foreign Direct Investment 2015 - 2019, set out challenging targets in respect of the FDI sector for the period. These targets included amongst others, the creation of 80,000 direct jobs in 900 investment projects over the period, bringing total FDI Employment to 209,000 by the end of the period. Under the program, IDA targeted a minimum increase in investment of 30% to 40% in each region outside Dublin. All targets from that strategy were achieved, with 1,209 investments creating 112,373 jobs achieved over the 5 years.
A new IDA strategy covering the period 2021 to 2024 will be launched shortly. Regional development will remain at the core of IDA’s strategy for the next 4 years. Maintaining competitiveness and improving the carrying capacity of the economy will be critical to delivering FDI over the next period .
The Midlands Region (Westmeath, Longford, Laois, and Offaly) has 43 multinational companies who collectively employ 6,209 people. The Region has been successful over several years in mobilising inward FDI, with employment levels in IDA client companies increasing every year since 2012. The Midlands offers an attractive cluster of LifeSciences and Global Business Services companies, excellent connectivity to major cities and Dublin airport and world class collaboration between academia and industry. The 2019 results show employment in the region at 245,096, an all-time high.
IDA clients account for 10.5% of national employment and growth in 2019 was 6% compared to 2.4% nationally. IDA client companies created 21,844 jobs across a range of sectors in 2019. Expenditure by IDA clients totalled €21.5 bn, an increase of 11%, and is made up of payroll (+12%) €13.3bn; materials (+9%) €2.6bn and services (+12%) €5.6bn.
|
County |
No. of companies |
Total Emp |
|
Westmeath |
22 |
3,686 |
|
Offaly |
11 |
1,192 |
|
Laois |
4 |
121 |
|
Total |
37 |
4,999 |
(Source: DBEI Employment Survey 2019)
While FDI cannot form the sole economic development strategy for a region, it can play a huge role in increasing economic activity and reducing unemployment. However, winning such investments is a challenge and will require a concerted and continuous effort by all national and regional stakeholders. This will require greater co-operation, collaboration and integration to develop and present the strongest possible proposition to existing and future potential investors.
In response to COVID, IDA migrated many of its business development and client engagement activities to digital platforms. IDA Ireland has developed a suite of digital content which can be accessed by potential investors. The Agency has developed this further and has put in place an E-Site Visit experience for potential investors. The use of digital platforms by IDA staff has contributed to an enhanced digital engagement with existing clients and also in hosting E-Site visits with potential new investors.
|
County |
Site visits end Q3 2020 |
E visits end Q3 2020 |
|
Westmeath |
6 |
5 |
|
Offaly |
1 |
0 |
|
Laois |
1 |
0 |
|
County |
Site Visits 2019 |
Grant Payments 2019 € |
|
Westmeath |
22 |
4,557,617 |
|
Offaly |
5 |
1,195,208 |
|
Laois |
5 |
0 |
|
County |
Site Visits 2018 |
Grant Payments 2018 € |
|
Westmeath |
22 |
3,146,661 |
|
Offaly |
5 |
201,335 |
|
Laois |
10 |
24,850 |
|
County |
Site Visits 2017 |
Grant Payments 2017 € |
|
Westmeath |
42 |
2,078,588 |
|
Offaly |
5 |
960,089 |
|
Laois |
4 |
24,500 |
|
County |
Site Visits 2016 |
Grant Payments 2016 € |
|
Westmeath |
36 |
1,768,687 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
355,540 |
|
Laois |
6 |
5,000 |
|
County |
Site Visits 2015 |
Grant Payments 2015 € |
|
Westmeath |
28 |
2,513,508 |
|
Offaly |
8 |
120,000 |
|
Laois |
4 |
75,000 |
County Laois Employment developments in IDA companies (Update from Employment Survey 2019)
|
Employment Data |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
No of Companies |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
|
Total Jobs |
133 |
108 |
84 |
106 |
87 |
105 |
115 |
120 |
111 |
121 |
|
Gross Gain |
14 |
2 |
0 |
22 |
9 |
18 |
10 |
5 |
4 |
16 |
|
Gross Losses |
-1 |
-27 |
-24 |
0 |
-28 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-13 |
-6 |
|
Net Change |
13 |
-25 |
-24 |
22 |
-19 |
18 |
10 |
5 |
-9 |
10 |
Announcements made over the last two years include Greenfield Global Inc., Canada’s largest producer of alcohol and fuel ethanol, and one of the largest alcohols and solvents companies in North America, officially opened their new 3,800 sq. metre EU manufacturing headquarters located on IDA’s Business and Technology Park in Portlaoise in July this year. This is the company’s first manufacturing facility outside North America and will produce Pharmco branded products serving Life Science customers globally. This new facility will result in 75 new jobs over the next five years, while 170 construction jobs were created during the build and fit-out phase of the project. The Portlaoise facility is one of the first NZEB (near-zero energy buildings) to be completed under the new European standards.
Glanbia and its US partner Leprino Foods announced plans in July 2018 to build a new €130m mozzarella cheese manufacturing facility in Portlaoise, Co Laois. The new plant will create 250 jobs during construction and will employ 78 people when it is completed. A site for the new facility has been identified at the Togher Industrial Estate in Portlaoise. The new facility is expected to begin production in late 2020. The project is supported by Enterprise Ireland.
County Offaly Employment developments in IDA companies (Update from Employment Survey 2019)
|
Employment Data |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
No of Companies |
10 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
|
Total Jobs |
1,032 |
986 |
1,041 |
1,058 |
1,059 |
1,080 |
1,107 |
1,167 |
1,213 |
1,192 |
|
Gross Gain |
38 |
39 |
55 |
43 |
51 |
66 |
49 |
108 |
59 |
69 |
|
Gross Losses |
-344 |
-85 |
0 |
-26 |
-50 |
-45 |
-22 |
-48 |
-13 |
-90 |
|
Net Change |
-306 |
-46 |
55 |
17 |
1 |
21 |
27 |
60 |
46 |
-21 |
Steris AST held the official opening of their new facility, located within IDA’s Business & Technology Park, Tullamore in February 2020.
County WestmeathEmployment developments in IDA companies (Update from Employment Survey 2019)
|
Employment Data |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
No of Companies |
18 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
16 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
|
Total Jobs |
2,193 |
2,284 |
2,429 |
2,397 |
2,594 |
2,723 |
2,783 |
3,012 |
3,451 |
3,686 |
|
Gross Gain |
210 |
162 |
183 |
143 |
234 |
213 |
221 |
245 |
469 |
255 |
|
Gross Losses |
-25 |
-71 |
-38 |
-175 |
-37 |
-84 |
-161 |
-16 |
-30 |
-20 |
|
Net Change |
185 |
91 |
145 |
-32 |
197 |
129 |
60 |
229 |
439 |
235 |
Huawei announced in August last year that they are to invest €70m into its Irish R&D operations over 3years. Huawei made the announcement from their HQ in Shenzhen, China. They have 3 facilities in Ireland, including one in Athlone, where they currently employ c.10people. Their additional facilities are located in Dublin & Cork.
