Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the past ten years, there have been three new name investments in Donegal out of a total of 18 investments in the county across that period. It is important to emphasise in this context, however, that foreign direct investment performance, whether in Donegal or any other county, is not necessarily reflected in new name investments. This is because almost 70% of all new FDI in Ireland comes from existing IDA client companies already situated in the country.

As the evidence demonstrates, there has been a steady and positive increase in employment numbers in IDA Ireland client companies in Donegal in recent years. The county, for example, has experienced a 52% increase in FDI-driven employment since 2012, with job numbers in the agency's client firms there increasing from 2,223 in 2012 to 3,389 at the end of last year. This compares very favourably with the national average increase of 31% in FDI employment across that same period. In 2017 alone, the number of IDA Ireland supported jobs in Donegal increased by 11%, with the county now home to 12 IDA companies, including SITA, Optibelt and Pramerica.

The indications are that FDI in Donegal will continue to experience further growth this year. For example, Abbott Laboratories has announced plans to expand its workforce in the county with the creation of 500 new jobs. Site visits by IDA Ireland client companies have also increased, with six visits as of the third quarter of 2018, compared with a total of two site visits in 2017.

While progress has been made in helping to generate new economic opportunities in Donegal, the Government remains determined to achieve more. For this reason, work is continuing to unlock further the economic potential in the county. IDA Ireland remains pivotal to this and the agency is engaging with its clients and other enterprise agencies to create jobs and source new investments there.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The table below outlines total new name investment by IDA Ireland clients nationally from 2008 to 2017, inclusive.

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