Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of first-time investments by new IDA Ireland client companies in County Donegal for each of the past ten years; the percentage of the national total of new client investments in each of these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50265/18]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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This question asks the Minister the number of first-time investments by new IDA Ireland client companies in County Donegal for each of the past ten years; the percentage of the national total of new client investments in each of these years that went to Donegal; and if she will update the House on the matter.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for her response. Unfortunately, it indicates what the reality has been in recent years regarding new investments coming to Donegal. As she rightly points out, the existing client companies in Donegal have done tremendously well, thrived in the county and continued to expand, thankfully. The figures she outlined, going from 2,200 to 3,300 in a few short years, demonstrate what a good place Donegal can be to do business, but of course all these existing client companies had to first locate in the county. They started off in the county and then grew.

There was a real priority in the county and there used to be an office based in Letterkenny specifically to attract new investment. As a result, the sector and foreign direct investment in Letterkenny and across the county thrived. That has, however, not been followed through by the existing Government in recent years.

The Minister has confirmed today that there have only been three new investments in the county in the past ten years. That is not good enough. It shows the Government must reappraise how it is doing this and it must try to ensure we have a pipeline of new companies coming in to bolster and grow employment in the county. Will the Minister undertake that she will revisit this and try to ensure we are getting our fair share of new investment in future?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I understand the wish to see continued investment from new overseas firms. It is always encouraging when a multinational company decides to locate in Ireland. That is particularly the case when it is in a region for the first time. We should not, however, allow our enthusiasm for new name investors, which I assure the Deputy the IDA is working daily to attract to Ireland, to cloud the fact that the most important investors are firms already present in Ireland. As I said, that is because 70% of all new FDI in this country comes from existing IDA client companies.

Our priority is always to sustain and support investors that already have a presence here with a view to encouraging their growth and expansion. That remains the most effective means through which we can create new employment opportunities in places such as Donegal. There are already excellent companies there such as Pramerica, Abbott Ireland and others. It is important not to dismiss the great work being done by them in creating employment in Donegal. We also have, of course, indigenous companies there which are also supported by Enterprise Ireland. They also play an important role in creating employment throughout the country.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is important that the Government does not hide behind the success of existing companies in Donegal to justify us not getting our fair share of new investments. Companies such as Pramerica, United Health Care and SITA, among many others, have really thrived and are now a tremendous part of the local economy. We need, however, to see the Government continuing to push that on in the future. The companies we would hope to grow in future would be new ones which would come to the county, alongside companies already there. That is where the Minister and her Government have been falling down and have not been prioritising the county. As the Minister stated in her own figures, we have only had three first time investments in the past ten years. The Government needs to pull up its socks and ensure Donegal becomes a priority again.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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All counties in the country are a priority. I have a particular priority for regional investment and that is why I announced successful applicants to the regional enterprise investment fund on Monday. It is a €60 million fund and almost €29 million was allocated on Monday. That fund is to help the regions to develop new initiatives. It is about clustering, investing in property and investing in research and development. I will shortly be announcing - I think next week - the disruptive technologies innovation fund. That is another fund we have rolled out to help companies look at the jobs of the future. Two weeks ago, I also launched the future jobs initiative and again that is looking at how we can support enterprise to improve productivity, increase competitiveness, get more labour participation and transition to a low-carbon economy. I also refer to encouraging companies to invest in research and development. I reassure the Deputy that Donegal will not be left out, nor will any other county.