Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Flaherty for raising this. As he acknowledged, the Tánaiste was able to announce very strong annual results for IDA Ireland in 2022 yesterday which showed a substantial increase in growth in FDI employment on the 2021 figures. The growth in employment in 2022 brought the number of people employed in the FDI sector in Ireland to more than 300,000, which is the highest FDI employment level ever. The results showed continued substantial growth in FDI over 2022 despite the difficult global economic environment with 33,000 new jobs created. Job losses, which were at historically low levels in recent years, increased in the latter half of 2022 as some tech companies sought to reduce costs and employee numbers in line with reduced revenue forecasts and weakening company valuations. These lay-offs, proportionate to the size of the overall portfolio, resulted in less net employment growth this year giving a net increase of just above 24,000 jobs year on year. The strongest regional performance among IDA Ireland clients in 2022 was in the mid-east region, which saw a net change of 13.6% followed by Dublin at 10.8% and the Deputy's own region in the midlands of 9.7%, which he has just acknowledged.

In addition to the high-level results announced yesterday a more detailed analytical report with results split by ownership, region, by county and sector will follow next month. In regard to the most recent figures I have available, I can advise that in 2021, there were 13,010 IDA Ireland-supported jobs in Longford, of which 186 were new jobs. Enterprise Ireland is currently surveying its clients to collect employment data so it is not yet possible to give employment gains for 2022. However the 2021 figures were that there were 2,262 EI-supported jobs in Longford. In January 2023, we will have the employment survey from EI which will update us with the 2022 figures.

In regard to the property issue raised by Deputy Flaherty, IDA Ireland has prioritised Longford for development in its 2021 to 2024 property programme. I plan to deliver advanced building solutions in that period within Longford town. As the Deputy said we had a successful visit recently. I commend the team behind the co:worx hub space in Edgeworthstown. I recommend that Deputy Naughten call into it on his way home some day to see what can be done with a very successful hub.

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