Dáil debates

Thursday, 11 May 2023

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Industrial Development

11:00 am

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

62. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of site visits hosted by IDA Ireland to counties Clare, Limerick and Galway in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22161/23]

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My question relates to IDA Ireland. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could report on the total number of site visits hosted by the IDA to counties Clare, Limerick and Galway in 2022.

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Regional development is at the centre of Government's enterprise policy, as set out in the White Paper on enterprise and is the key focus of our Department's work on developing and implementing the regional enterprise plans. IDA Ireland is committed to the pursuit of more balanced, compact regional development which can deliver complementary efficiency and equity gains, with the overall impact of helping to advance national development. IDA Ireland is targeting that at least half of all investments - that is 400 of 800 - from 2021 to 2024 would be in regional locations and to maintain the same high level of investment as targeted in IDA Ireland’s previous strategy for each region.

IDA Ireland results for 2022 show the highest increase in FDI employment on record. Total employment in IDA Ireland client companies now stands at 301,475, the highest employment level ever and a 9% increase on 2021. Employment growth was recorded in every region of the country for the second consecutive year.

The west and mid-west region has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across technology, life sciences, international financial services and engineering and industrial technologies. It has also won and continues to win significant investment across all of these sectors over a sustained period which has contributed significantly to employment growth and positive economic impacts on other sectors of the economy.

There are currently 70 IDA Ireland client companies, employing 6,643 people, in Clare, 68, employing 14,793 people, in Limerick and 99, employing 24,400 people, in Galway. In 2022, there were: 22 site visits to Clare, 17 in-person and five virtual; 48 site visits to Limerick, 31 in-person and 17 virtual; and 40 site visits to Galway, 31 in-person and nine virtual.

11:10 am

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This week I spoke with Helen Downes, the CEO of Shannon Chamber. Among other things, we discussed balanced regional development. The Minister of State will be aware of the work of Shannon Chamber. I understand he will be addressing its members later this year in Dromoland, which we are all looking forward to. As he well knows, balanced regional development is a core part of the programme for Government. It has been committed to as a mission and underpinned by the national development plan, national planning framework and Project Ireland 2040. In 2022, there were 33,000 new jobs created in FDI companies in Ireland, which is great news. When we drill down into those figures, however, we see that the strongest regional performance was in the mid east, which reported a net change of 13.6%, followed by Dublin and the midlands. In view of those figures, a question about fair and equitable balanced development has to be asked. If we have a year where some regions far outperform others, what actions will IDA Ireland resolve to take the following year to improve growth in a region such as the mid west? Further, what support will the Minister of State lend to the same region?

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am very well aware of the work of Shannon Chamber and Helen Downes, who does excellent work. I would point out that the biggest job announcement so far this year was made by the Minister last Friday for Dexcom in Athenry, which will benefit workers and industry in Clare with 1,000 jobs over the next number of years. IDA Ireland continues to target that kind of investment into the regions, into the western side of the island as well as the eastern. We will absolutely continue to work with groups such as Shannon Chamber. Later in the year we will be launching a call for applications under the new regional enterprise plan, REP. The plan for the mid west involves a bottom-up approach. It is led and chaired by its own locally based implementation group. It deals with designs projects and plans that are directly relevant, which we are interested in funding and supporting. Through the REP, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and other investment agencies, we will continue to support the growth of the mid west. We are due to host our next Building Better Business conference there at the end of May.

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I note from IDA Ireland's additional job creation figures from 2022 that County Clare is one of just five counties where there has been net negative growth in the year. What is the Minister of State going to have IDA Ireland do about this, to pull its socks up for next year and to ensure we are not in the same position we have been in for the past three years, namely, looking at a minus figure? Following the fantastic research done by the Clare Public Participation Network, it was identified that we have had two employment black spots in Clare for over a decade now, namely, Kilrush and Kilkee, which each reported rates of unemployment of over 25% in census 2016. South-west Clare formerly had a wealth of light industry but this took a nose-dive during the downturn and never came back. With the winding down of Moneypoint, the problem has only been exacerbated. I welcome the developments at Moneypoint Green Atlantic but it is not enough to provide a sustainable future. I implore the Minister of State to sit down with IDA Ireland and have a proper conversation about Kilkee and Kilrush. I ask that he sit down with me, departmental officials and even constituency colleagues to discuss that.

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In fairness to IDA Ireland, given its track record, there is no need for it to pull up its socks. It is absolutely committed to delivering on this. With regard to Clare, the Shannon Estuary task force will be finalising its report and amazing opportunities are being identified. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has been driving that, particularly in the offshore area. As the Minister said, we are making significant announcements there, and Clare will benefit from that. I would also point to the funding available through the Department of Rural and Community Development for places such as Kilrush. If the relevant authorities in these areas have projects they want to work on with the local authority, namely, Clare County Council, money will not be an issue because funding can be made available through the regional development plan. I am more than happy to sit down with the Deputy and walk her through the opportunities that will be available. It is not a question of supports not being available. If plans are there and if they are viable and sustainable, then we will support them. There are amazing opportunities for County Clare coming out of the Shannon Estuary task force and out of our offshore strategy, which will be taking a major step forward today.

Questions Nos. 63 to 65, inclusive, taken with Written Answers.

Question No. 66 answered after Question No. 79.