I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 275 together.
IDA Ireland collates information on the value of investments by its client companies through the Annual Business Survey of Economic Impact (ABSEI) which includes data for exports, Irish economy expenditure and capital expenditure. This data is collated on a national basis only. Information on the value of investments made by IDA client companies in Local Electoral Areas (LEAs) is therefore unavailable. However, the value of investments is reflected in the number of jobs created across the country. I am pleased to say that the level of investment by IDA client companies in counties Louth, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath and Westmeath remains strong with 19,533 people employed in 104 FDI companies.
It should also be emphasised that FDI only forms one part of investment in regional locations. Indigenous enterprise is responsible for a significant portion of employment growth, especially outside Dublin. Enterprise Ireland supported companies continue to perform well in the regions with all five counties reporting increases in job numbers. In 2017, a 7% increase was reported in Westmeath, with a 5% increase reported in Meath, Louth and Kildare and a 4% increase reported in Wicklow.
Enterprise Ireland does not conduct site visits. Data on IDA Ireland site visits and jobs are collated on a county-by-county basis only and details on site visits in Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Westmeath and Louth from 2013 to Q1 2018 are outlined in Table C. IDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in all counties of Ireland to its client base. It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to invest always rests with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as at least 70% of all new FDI comes from existing IDA Ireland client companies.
Tables A and B provide a breakdown of employment by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland client companies in counties Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Westmeath and Louth from 2013 to 2017. The employment figures for 2018 will not be available until my Department's Annual Employment Survey is carried out in November 2018.
Table A: Total employment of EI-supported companies in Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Westmeath and Louth 2013-2017
|
County
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
|
Kildare
|
6,520
|
7,512
|
8,308
|
8,632
|
9,134
|
|
Meath
|
6,072
|
6,658
|
6,855
|
7,007
|
7,302
|
|
Wicklow
|
3,622
|
3,628
|
3,903
|
4,104
|
4,132
|
|
Westmeath
|
2,854
|
3,436
|
3,548
|
3,653
|
3,741
|
|
Louth
|
5,032
|
5,434
|
5,600
|
5,819
|
6,121
|
Table B: Total employment of IDA-supported companies in Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Westmeath and Louth 2013-2017
|
County
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
|
Kildare
|
10,327
|
10,285
|
10,628
|
10,229
|
9,282
|
|
Louth
|
2,568
|
3,053
|
3,236
|
3,593
|
3,702
|
|
Meath
|
1,540
|
1,536
|
1,533
|
1,526
|
1,491
|
|
Westmeath
|
2,202
|
2,386
|
2,519
|
2,573
|
2,794
|
|
Wicklow
|
2,348
|
2,324
|
2,199
|
2,234
|
2,264
|
Table C: IDA site visits in Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Westmeath and Louth 2013-Q1 2018
|
County
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
Q1 2018
|
|
Kildare
|
1
|
1
|
7
|
8
|
10
|
4
|
|
Meath
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
|
Wicklow
|
1
|
4
|
7
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
|
Westmeath
|
9
|
12
|
28
|
36
|
42
|
3
|
|
Louth
|
4
|
10
|
20
|
24
|
22
|
6
|
