Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2005
249 Mr. Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of delegations taken to south Kildare by IDA Ireland in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15077/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland, including its regions and areas. Ultimately decisions regarding where to locate, including what areas or sites to visit as potential locations, are taken by investors. IDA Ireland hosted two site visits to Kildare over the past two years, both in late 2003. In addition to targeting potential new projects, IDA Ireland is also working with its existing base of companies in the region with a view to supporting such companies with potential expansions and diversification of activities, which strengthen their presence in the region. At present 25 IDA client companies in County Kildare employ 10,109 permanent staff.
Last week, I performed the official opening of the new International Fund Services (Ireland) Limited, IFS, office in Naas, County Kildare, the second operation for IFS in Ireland. Located in Millennium Park, the Naas facility is on target to employ 140 people by the end of 2005 and 240 by the end of 2006.
Kildare continues to thrive across a broad range of activities in the housing, commercial, services and industrial sectors. As a result, many job opportunities are being created within the county. The population of the county continues to grow well above the national average and in 2004 significant developments in overseas investment have been announced including: the largest ever ICT investment in the country by Intel of €1.6 billion in wafer fabrication; a €21.4 million technology development centre by Hewlett Packard. Other overseas companies in the county such as Wyeth Medica, Oral B, Tegral Products, IFS, and Athy Concentrates, continue to provide solid job opportunities. Similar opportunities are being provided by the services and local industrial sectors.
I am confident the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland will continue bear fruit in terms of maximising sustainable investment and jobs for the people of Kildare.
