Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 October 2018
33. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if she is satisfied with the level of IDA activity in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42555/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that there are 18 IDA client companies located in County Wexford employing a total of 2,948 people there. I am pleased that these companies have exhibited strong growth in recent years, as evidenced by the 10% increase in IDA supported employment in the County from 2016 to 2017. Total employment in overseas companies in the South-East now stands at 14,785 people across 75 companies and the IDA continues to engage with its client base to help support further employment and investment growth in Wexford and the wider region.
While the employment trends in Wexford are positive, I recognise that there is room for improvement in the County. I am working hard, together with my colleagues across Government, to further unlock the economic potential of the County and to create more jobs for the area.
One potential means to create new opportunities is of course through new or expanded foreign direct investment (FDI). The IDA has a number of locations available for investment in Wexford which are being actively marketed to clients. These include lands at the IDA Business & Technology Park in Wexford Town, the Whitemill Industrial Estate in Wexford Town and a building and lands at the IDA Business Park in Enniscorthy. I am hopeful that further investors can be encouraged to situate in the area, whether at these sites or others, and thereby contribute further to the region's growth and job creation.
More broadly, I want to emphasise that creating jobs in the regions is a priority for both the IDA and my Department. I am focused on doing everything I can to deliver the fairest possible spread of investment across the country. The energy and resources we have invested into regional growth is, as the evidence illustrates, now helping produce results. In 2017, for example, the IDA delivered 99 regional investments with 45% of new jobs created outside Dublin. The last three years have seen 30,000 new FDI jobs created outside the capital. We will continue to do our utmost to encourage further such job growth across all parts of Ireland in the time ahead.
