Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

IDA Ireland is targeting a minimum of 30% to 40% increase in the number of investments in the area. There are 33 multinational companies based in the midlands employing 4,214 people and most of the companies have been located in County Westmeath.

I will give the Deputies the facts on IDA Ireland site visits in Westmeath. There were nine site visits in quarter 1 of 2016. In 2015 there were 28 site visits to Westmeath; 12 in 2014; nine in 2013; and seven in 2012.

I met the Deputies when I was in Mullingar last week. I was very disappointed to get the news because I had visited the IDA Ireland business and technology site in Mullingar and toured the successful Patterson Pump plant. Patterson Pump is looking at the possibility of acquiring an extra two acres on site. I am aware that there is a very strong cluster focus in the region, with medical technology, life sciences and international business services such as Teleflex and Axa. I also enjoyed very much the National Life Sciences and Engineering Expo in Mullingar that was organised by the very busy and effective Mullingar Chamber of Commerce. I spoke to potential multinationals of the future and to some start-ups with huge potential. I recognise that more needs to be done in the context of growing companies and ensuring that IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland target the midlands region. It is my ambition and I promise to create the right environment in the region and rural Ireland in order to generate long-term employment.

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