Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a breakdown by county of jobs created by companies with the support of the IDA for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12775/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In the five-year period 2003 to 2007 a total of 53,976 new jobs were created in IDA supported companies. The following tabular statement shows the annual breakdown of that figure on a county basis.

The level of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ireland relative to the size of the economy is one of the highest in the world. Today, in Ireland, there are over 1,000 IDA supported companies employing in excess of 136,000 people. This figure represents 42% of industrial and financial employment in the economy. The average salary from IDA supported investments in 2007 was almost €44,000 or 19% above the average industrial wage of €36,800, reflecting the higher quality and related higher skills of the new positions to be created by these investments. IDA supported companies paid an estimated €3bn in Corporate Tax in 2007. They also accounted for approximately 85% of manufacturing companies' exports and spent €15.87bn in the economy comprised of €6.73bn on Payroll, €5.71bn on services and €3.43bn on materials from Irish sources.

Ireland competes at the highest level globally to win foreign direct investments and IDA Ireland focuses, with considerable success, on seeking inward investment from top-tier corporations and companies within a number of high potential business sectors including Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, Medical Technology, Financial Services, International Services, Digital Media and Information Communications Technologies (ICT).

I am satisfied that the policies being pursued by Government, together with the activities of IDA Ireland will continue to enable us to maintain the enviable position which we hold in terms of attracting foreign direct investment.

Table showing the number of new jobs created in IDA supported companies in each of the years 2003 to 2007.