Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I said it will not be forgotten this morning anyway. As we just discussed, IDA Ireland is working particularly hard to deliver in the regions through its strategy, Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021-2024. IDA Ireland is identifying emerging trends and looking at the opportunities for sustainable growth among its existing client base through a focus on transformative investments to increase the productivity of existing Irish operations and to attract new ones through research, development and innovation, digitalisation, training and sustainability. The south east region, of which Carlow is part, has 86 IDA Ireland client companies, employing just over 15,500 people across technology, life sciences, international financial services, and engineering and industrial technologies.

FDI performance in the region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA Ireland clients increasing by 25% over the period. Carlow is part of the south-east region. There are four IDA Ireland client companies in County Carlow with a combined employment of 1,515. As we discussed earlier, the new 34,000 sq. ft. advanced building solution in Carlow town is scheduled for practical completion in the coming weeks in the second quarter of 2023. In this spirit, IDA Ireland will continue to market Carlow and the south-east region through its overseas offices to target mobile FDI opportunities with corresponding site visits. The availability of the advanced building solution will be a major plus in this marketing effort for Carlow.

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