Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

IDA Ireland is promoting County Sligo and the north west to potential investors on an ongoing basis and every effort is being made to secure further industry for the north west, including County Sligo, by progressing the development of a knowledge economy in order that the region can compete nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment. The agency is also working with its existing client base to expand its presence in the county.

To support this strategy of moving to a more knowledge based economy, IDA Ireland is working closely with educational institutions in the Sligo region in developing the skill sets necessary to attract high value added employment to the county. As part of the transition to repositioning the county to a more knowledge based economy, IDA Ireland is marketing Sligo as a key location for investment in the pharmaceuticals, chemicals, medical technologies, engineering, consumer product and financial services sectors. IDA Ireland is also working with FÁS to provide guidance in developing the skill sets needed by those in the workforce who are interested in upskilling.

The location that IDA Ireland focuses on is the national spatial strategy gateway town of Sligo and the linked gateway of Letterkenny-Derry. In addition, IDA Ireland is actively promoting the county towns of Donegal and Carrick-on-Shannon. Over the past five years, IDA Ireland's focused strategy for Sligo has been to promote the county as part of an integrated north-west region with access to a population base of more than 220,000 people.

Recent job announcements for Sligo include Abbott Ireland, which is to add 350 new jobs to its existing diagnostics facility——

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