Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My questions are more macro. The importance of the level of job creation in the past 12 to 18 months should be put on the record. No one can do anything but admit that the number of jobs created in the past five years has been phenomenal. I want to see that continue regardless of who is in power, as this country's success is based on creating jobs and an economy that funds our services.

My question is on the €555 million in capital funding. I do not know whether the Minister can answer it, but has IDA Ireland started targeting strategic areas of the country? There is a regional action plan for jobs, but has IDA Ireland started examining black spots or perceived black spots and is it starting to strategise? Sometimes, it has to be reactive towards a company that is coming to Ireland. If the company wants to be in Dublin, Limerick or Cork, it must be facilitated because we want it to come to Ireland, but has there been any proactive movement as regards regional black spots?

Has an analysis been conducted of what IDA Ireland could need in monetary terms to mitigate against the risks of Brexit? That will equate to staff and boots on the ground. If there has been an analysis, is there a target priority? I hope my questions are relevant.