Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 42 together. I thank Deputy Kelleher and I acknowledge that I am answering the question for Deputy Scanlon.

In 2017, IDA Ireland completed an advanced technology building in Sligo as part of its regional property programme. Abbot subsequently took ownership of that facility, thereby deepening its existing investment in the county further.

The Deputies asked about the IDA Ireland-owned lands at Oakfield, Sligo. I know the area because I have visited it. IDA Ireland is in partnership with Sligo County Council on the delivery of the western distributor road to provide access to this property. I understand that works on the road have begun. Once completed, IDA Ireland will actively market the Oakfield site to its client base with a view to attracting new investment to the area.

While IDA Ireland has no plans to construct buildings in County Leitrim, I am pleased that Leitrim's existing client base has shown a remarkably strong level of commitment to the county. In fact, the level of employment by overseas companies in Leitrim has increased by 46% between 2013 and 2017. I answered a question on this point earlier for Deputy Kenny. There are now 889 people employed in IDA Ireland client companies in Leitrim, compared to 606 in 2013.

Leitrim, along with Sligo and Donegal, is marketed by IDA Ireland as part of the north-west region. Employment in the north-west region has been steadily growing in recent years. Last year, for example, IDA Ireland client companies in the north west created 330 new jobs, bringing total employment in overseas companies to 6,462 people across 40 client companies. There is a strong base of investment within Sligo and Leitrim with 28 IDA Ireland client companies employing a total of 3,073 people across the two counties. IDA Ireland is determined to grow these numbers further and it is engaging with its client base to sustain employment creation and investment.

Indigenous enterprise is also contributing to employment in Sligo and Leitrim. With regard to Sligo, a total of 1,733 people were employed in 69 Enterprise Ireland-supported enterprises in the county last year, representing an increase of 12% since 2016.

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The local enterprise office in Sligo, meanwhile, helped to create 51 new jobs last year, bringing total employment in LEO-supported companies to 969. As for Leitrim, 559 people were employed across 25 Enterprise Ireland-supported companies in the county in 2017. The Leitrim LEO also helped to create 39 new jobs, with 454 people now employed in firms it supports.

We recognise though that there is room for improvement in the north west and we are working hard across Government to further unlock the economic potential of the area. The enterprise agencies remain pivotal to this and they continue to engage with their clients and one another to create jobs and source new investment for the region.

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