Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 85: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the locations of the site visits made by the Industrial Development Authority to County Donegal for each year since 2003 on a yearly basis. [5781/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The location of the site visits by potential investors to County Donegal in each of the years 2003 to 2009 is set out on the following tabular statement.

IDA Ireland is actively encouraging new investment in Donegal in knowledge-based industries. This is part of a focused strategy to replace the traditional clothing and textile industries that have been declining in the north west region in recent years. During the last five years IDA-supported companies in Donegal have created over 663 new jobs.

There are presently 12 IDA Ireland-supported companies in Donegal, trading internationally and employing 1,683 full time and 128 part time people in software development, systems development and the medical technology industry. Donegal's industry base is transforming from the clothing and textile industry to high tech, high skill activity. Companies such as Pramerica and UnitedHealth, which have located in Donegal are continuously growing and recruiting.

The agency's emphasis is to build up an international and financial services cluster and is making strides in delivering on this, evidenced by the existing quality of the companies and the recent announcement of an expansion of 123 jobs by SITA INC. In addition IDA is actively promoting Donegal as a successful location for high-end manufacturing mainly to companies in the medical technologies sector. This is proving successful with projects from Medisize and Zeus Industrial Products Inc. who have opened a European Operations Centre for the production and distribution of precision medical tubing products.

Another primary focus for IDA in Donegal is the designated linked Gateway of Letterkenny/Derry and significant investment has also been undertaken in developing property solutions through the provision of a Business and Technology Park along with three advance buildings in Letterkenny.

This focus involves developing stronger economic links with Invest Northern Ireland, which includes initiatives like the north west Business & Technology Zone. This is aimed at promoting the linked Gateway of Letterkenny/Derry in line with the objectives of the NSS 2002 - 2020 and the NI Regional Development Strategy 2025.

The delivery of physical, social and economic infrastructure is key to securing inward investment and IDA Ireland continues to be engaged in identifying and prioritising investment in these areas in association with local partners. In that context the interdepartmental group report published previously by Minister Martin outlined the wide range of infrastructure projects completed and under way which have and will continue to support the environment in Donegal for job creation.

Table showing the location of site visits by potential investors to

County Donegal in each year of the seven-year period 2003 to 2009