Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 May 2022
17. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the progress made to date in the implementation in the Mid-West region of the IDA Strategy - Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24978/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegional development is at the centre of IDA Ireland's current strategy “Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024”. Of the target 800 investments in the Strategy, half are targeted at regional locations.
As the Deputy may be aware, IDA Ireland announces mid and end year results. The latest results, released last December, show a very strong first year of this Strategy. Highlights of IDA Ireland’s performance throughout 2021 include the creation of over 29,000 new jobs in IDA supported client companies, bringing the numbers directly employed in the multinational sector in Ireland to 275,384.
The net number of jobs created in 2021 was 16,826 demonstrating the continued resilience of the existing FDI base. This included 249 new investments with, 104 of these being new name investments.
More than half (53%) of investments in 2021 were in regional locations, with every region experiencing growth. There are now 150 IDA client companies in the Mid-West Region, employing 25,270 people, up 5% on the previous year.
Under their Regional Property Programme IDA will deliver an Advanced Building Solution in Limerick that is currently at construction stage. IDA has also recently completed construction of the Advanced Manufacturing Centre at the IDA National Technology Park, which is currently being operationalised. Significant infrastructure upgrade works are underway at Raheen Business Park and the National Technology Park to ensure a robust value proposition for clients. The Agency has also committed to work in partnership with Tipperary County Council for the delivery of a planning permit for an Advanced Technology Building in Clonmel, to advance the location from an attractiveness perspective.
The 2021 figures show a pattern of sustained, robust growth in FDI investment and employment over a continuous period of more than ten years. IDA Ireland is targeting 76 investments for the Mid-West region in the period 2021 to 2024.
I expect the IDA’s 2022 Mid-Year results to be announced in June.
