Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021
67. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the numbers of persons working in IDA supported jobs in County Donegal in each of the years 2011 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [34445/21]
View answer68. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits organised in County Donegal by the IDA in each of the years 2011 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form [34446/21]
View answer69. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of new companies attracted to County Donegal by the IDA in each of the years 2011 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [34447/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 67 to 69, inclusive, together.
Regional development is at the centre of IDA’s new strategy, Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024. IDA Ireland 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. The 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.
This statistic reflects one element of FDI performance, a more accurate reflection of FDI performance is demonstrated in the Annual Employment Survey which demonstrates a strong performance in Co Donegal over the last decade. This is the latest data available.
IDA supported jobs in County Donegal in each of the years 2011 to 2020
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Number of Companies |
13 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
Total Jobs |
2,139 |
2,261 |
2,420 |
2,645 |
2,963 |
|
Year |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Number of Companies |
14 |
14 |
14 |
16 |
16 |
|
Total Jobs |
3,086 |
3,438 |
3,544 |
3,879 |
3,812 |
Source: Employment Survey 2020
The table above details how Donegal, along with many other parts of the country, has benefited from this strong regional focus. The County has experienced a significant increase in FDI-driven employment since 2011, with job numbers in IDA client firms there increasing from 2,139 in 2011 to 3,812 at the end of 2020. The County is now home to 16 IDA companies including Abbott, Optum and Tata Consultancy Services or TCS (formerly Pramerica).
Between 2011 and 2020 there were three new name investments located in County Donegal, one each in 2011, 2012 and 2020.
The number of Site Visits to County Donegal for the period 2011 to 2020 are shown below:
|
County |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
1 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
|
County |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
Donegal |
7 |
2 |
8 |
12 |
1 |
The introduction of travel restrictions related to Covid-19 led to the cancellation or postponement of scheduled IDA site visits and client meetings in every region of the country, including Donegal.
As an alternative to site visits, the IDA migrated many of its business development and client engagement activities to digital platforms. The Agency has developed new digital content and has also put in place an E-Site Visit experience for potential investors. There has been 2 in-person site visits and 64 E-visits nationally as of the first quarter. There have not been any site visits to Donegal during Q1, verified figures for Q2 are due next month.
When it comes to FDI site visits represent a valuable tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas. Site visit activity, however, does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant percentage of all new FDI comes from existing IDA client companies
Potential clients visiting Ireland may visit more than one county and may return to a location more than once. These figures represent individual visits and are therefore not indicative of the number of companies that have visited. The final decision on where to locate an investment is always decided by the client and not by IDA Ireland.
As part of the IDA’s Strategy Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021-24, IDA have set out proposed office solutions for regional locations, which will enable the IDA to attract further FDI to these locations. For example, IDA will deliver an Advanced Building Solution in Letterkenny, and compete upgrade works on IDA Parks in Donegal.
Regular engagement and collaboration with stakeholders are important in positioning any regional location to attract FDI and in this respect IDA Ireland continues to engage with Stakeholders as well as working with existing clients in all regional locations to generate additional jobs.
