Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
166. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a skills audit for County Mayo by IDA Ireland; the results of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18654/21]
View answerRegional development is at the centre of IDA’s new strategy, “Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024”, and IDA is committed to the pursuit of more balanced, compact regional development which can deliver complementary efficiency and equity gains, with the overall impact of helping to advance national development. IDA will target half of all investments (400) from 2021- 2024 to regional locations and maintain the same high level of investment as targeted in IDA’s previous strategy for each region of the country. FDI cannot be the sole contributor in addressing the challenges facing Ireland’s regions – from Brexit to Covid-19, digital transformation to the climate transition – but it can have a significant impact in propelling economic recovery and realising more balanced growth. There are 120 IDA supported companies in the West Region, employing 27,695 people in total and there are 17 IDA supported companies in County Mayo, employing 4,955. IDA Ireland will target 76 investments for the West region in the period 2021 to 2024.
IDA Ireland continues to have a very strong focus on skills availability and profiles across all Regional locations including the West Region and County Mayo. While IDA Ireland is not currently undertaking a specific skills audit for County Mayo, IDA Ireland continues to engage with all key stakeholders in the West Region including the West Region Skills Forum, Skillnet, 3rd level institutes in the West Region GMIT and NUIG, the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB), Enterprise Ireland, Mayo Local Enterprise Board, Mayo County Council and the WDC in relation to skills and talent availability, mapping, training and upskilling. IDA Ireland, under its new Strategy “Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth, 2021-2024 ” will continue to prioritise the development and support of skills that align with the future needs of industry.
