Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to locate 50% of IDA jobs in the BMW region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18720/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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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 BMW region. This commits IDA Ireland to try to achieve a target of 50% of all new greenfield jobs to be located in the region in the period 2000 to 2006.

Substantial progress has being made in attracting new jobs to the BMW given that in 1999, prior to the start of the Government's current national development programme, only some 25% of all new greenfield jobs were locating in the region. By 2004, a total of 41% of all new greenfield jobs created by IDA supported companies were located in the BMW region.

IDA Ireland operates within the framework of the national development plan and the national spatial strategy and is committed to the development of all regions of the country. IDA Ireland has built partnerships in the regions to enhance the environment for doing business. This requires co-operation with local authorities, local development bodies, utility providers, third level colleges and private developers.

Through its network of regional offices, the agency offers high quality property solutions on its flagship industrial and business parks to prospective investors. The agency seeks to attract high quality investments in key sectors such as medical technologies, pharmaceuticals and software and many examples of such investments have located in the BMW region. The agency also seeks to underpin the competitiveness of existing overseas companies located in the BMW by encouraging them to move up the value-chain into higher-value products and services and into higher-order functions such as research and development.

While I am confident that the strategies in place in IDA Ireland are appropriate for the attraction of FDI to Ireland and its regions, the agency has been asked to keep this strategy under review.