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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 February 2018

Tuesday, 6 February 2018

Ceisteanna (301)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

301. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation when the IDA last visited counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number of new jobs that have been created by the IDA in the past 12 months; the steps it is taking to attract companies to counties Cavan and Monaghan; the success it has had with this strategy for counties Cavan and Monaghan, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6044/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Regional development is a key priority of mine and I am focused on doing whatever I can to increase investment all across Ireland. The IDA shares this objective and its results for 2017 show that half of all jobs created last year were for locations outside Dublin.

In 2017 there were 12 IDA client companies employing a total of 1,305 people in Cavan and Monaghan. There were 45 new jobs created last year by these companies between the two counties. The Agency is focused, however, on growing these numbers further. The IDA has, for example, a dedicated regional manager for the North East/North West Region and an office in Cavan Innovation and Technology Centre. As part of its strategy to encourage investment to the area the Agency is also focusing on sectors including agri-food, manufacturing, tourism, internationally traded services and cleantech. The Agency regularly engages with key stakeholders on the ground in both Counties, including with local authorities, public bodies, the education sector and firms already present there.

IDA Ireland owns lands in both Cavan and Monaghan that are currently available for investment. The Agency is currently finalising a concept masterplan for the IDA Ireland Business Park in Monaghan and is also progressing with a proposed joint initiative with Monaghan County Council regarding possible planning permission for technology units on the Park to assist with marketing the wider area.

The Agency will continue to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in the North-East region to its client base and it makes every effort to ensure that FDI is spread as widely as possible across the country as a whole.

The following table outlines the total number of IDA jobs in North-East from 2011 to 2017:

IDA Ireland

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Cavan

Total Jobs

1,172

1,128

1,135

1,136

1,165

1,203

1,155

Louth

Total Jobs

1,511

1,881

2,568

3,029

3,217

3,574

3,702

Monaghan

Total Jobs

352

348

365

275

146

137

150

Total

3,035

3,357

4,068

4,440

4,528

4,914

5,007

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