Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created on foot of foreign inward investment here in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25771/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In the 5 year period from 2002 to 2006 (the latest date for which figures are available) a total of 54,750 jobs were created in IDA supported companies. The number of jobs created in each of those years is set out in the tabular statement.

The level of foreign direct investment in Ireland, relative to the size of the economy, is one of the highest in the world. Today, more than 1,000 overseas companies have substantial international operations in Ireland. These include many of the leading companies in Information & Communications Technologies, Life Sciences, Globally Traded Businesses and Financial Services.

The global economy, and Ireland's position in it, is changing rapidly. China and India are now more fully integrated into the world economy and, with the rest of Asia and Central and Eastern Europe, they provide strong competition for many activities. Our relative costs now are higher than before. We have responded nationally to these changes by positioning ourselves as the location for more advanced activities, with more qualified and better paying jobs. This is why the proposed investments, structures and policies set out in the new National Development Plan and National Spatial Strategy are so important.

In the 1990s the number of jobs created was the key criterion of success. Today, it is the quality and value of the activities undertaken here that matters. IDA Ireland has for many years followed a strategy of active engagement with its client companies to move more of their strategic and higher value activities to Ireland. The Agency continues to be very successful with this strategy as is evidenced by the very strong investment achievements in 2006, when IDA supported 71 new business projects with combined investments of over €2.6bn.

In addition to these direct benefits, FDI has multiplier effects throughout the economy, creates demand for high skills, advanced management and business processes, and guides national developments in education, science, telecommunications and other infrastructure. The roll out of the National Development Plan 2007-2013, which provides for strong investment in infrastructure and knowledge-driven activities is critical to underpin our continued success in attracting FDI.