Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 166: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the IDA reached its target of locating 50% of all new greenfield sites in the BMW region in 2004, in view of the fact that it failed to reach its target of locating 50% of all new greenfield sites in the BMW region in 2003; if not, the measures the IDA intends to take to remedy this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7280/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland, including its regions and areas. IDA Ireland is committed to regional development as a core part of its strategy and has set itself a high level performance target for the Objective One, Border-Midlands and West, BMW, area. This commits IDA Ireland to try to achieve a target of 50% of all new greenfield jobs to be located in the Objective One area in the period 2000-06.

The underlying process of creating new greenfield jobs in the Objective One area is initiated with first time site visits by overseas investors to the Objective One area. Commencing in 2000, it has been IDA Ireland's objective to direct 50% of all first-time site visits to the Objective One area. Following on from this, the expectation is that 50% of all new greenfield jobs created will be achieved in the Objective One area. Typically, new jobs on the ground come on stream within three to five years of approval.

In this regard, substantial progress has been achieved to date. In 1999, prior to the start of the current NDP, about 25% of all new greenfield jobs were locating in the Objective One area, whereas in 2004 some 41% of all new greenfield jobs were located in the BMW region.

Despite difficult conditions on the global economic front in recent years and relatively slow progress with the roll-out of infrastructure in the Objective One, BMW area, strong progress towards the 50% target is being made and, as the above figures show, the share of new greenfield projects going to the Objective One area is substantially higher than was the case prior to the current NDP.

While IDA Ireland continues to make every effort to maximise the proportion of new greenfield investment locating in the Objective One, BMW area through, inter alia, offering higher grant assistance it must be remembered that, in the final analysis, it is the investor who decides where to locate.