Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 October 2019
161. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA site visits in quarter 1, 2 and 3 of 2019, by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41549/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegional development is a key priority for my Department. We understand the importance of achieving the best possible spread of employment and investment across the country and we have been working hard towards that goal. Significant progress has already been made, with 58% of all IDA client-supported employment now located outside of Dublin. This figure represents the highest such figure in the history of the Agency. Our aim remains to increase this percentage further by the end of this year.
When it comes to foreign direct investment (FDI), site visits do represent a valuable tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas. However, as I have said before, site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant percentage of all new FDI comes from existing IDA client companies.
I want to emphasise that the IDA does its utmost to encourage its clients to locate or expand in regional Ireland. This is just as much a priority for the Agency as it is for my Department and the Government. Indeed, the IDA has targeted an increase of investment of 30% to 40% in every region by the end of its current strategy, a goal it is working hard to achieve. At the same time, we must recognise that the final decision as to where to invest always rests with the firm concerned. It is also the case, no matter what efforts we make to underline the undoubted benefits of regional locations, that certain overseas companies will only consider investing in large urban areas for various commercial or operational reasons.
The following table details the number of IDA site visits per county from 2018 until the second quarter of 2019. Information on site visits during the third quarter of 2019 will become available in the coming weeks.
Table A: IDA Site Visits by County, 2018-Q2 2019
|
County |
2018 |
Q1 2019 |
Q2 2019 |
|
Carlow |
7 |
3 |
3 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Clare |
13 |
5 |
12 |
|
Cork |
61 |
17 |
23 |
|
Donegal |
8 |
1 |
1 |
|
Dublin |
269 |
56 |
90 |
|
Galway |
54 |
9 |
17 |
|
Kerry |
10 |
0 |
2 |
|
Kildare |
8 |
3 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
5 |
5 |
2 |
|
Laois |
10 |
2 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
6 |
0 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
35 |
12 |
22 |
|
Longford |
5 |
0 |
1 |
|
Louth |
20 |
10 |
9 |
|
Mayo |
10 |
2 |
0 |
|
Meath |
6 |
1 |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
Sligo |
15 |
8 |
9 |
|
Tipperary |
5 |
3 |
2 |
|
Waterford |
21 |
8 |
3 |
|
Westmeath |
22 |
6 |
5 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
4 |
1 |
|
Total |
607 |
159 |
213 |
