Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 558: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the number of visits by Industrial Development Authority personnel with potential investors to a town (details supplied) in County Galway from the beginning of 2008 to September 2010; if he is satisfied that sufficient efforts are being undertaken by this agency to entice potential investors to the town; the progress being made by the Government in the areas of job creation at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39429/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the IDA that to date in 2010, there have been 25 first-time site visits to County Galway, of which 1 was to Ballinasloe. In 2009, there were 22 first-time site visits and 1 of these was to Ballinasloe. There were 14 first-time site visits to County Galway in 2008, none of which visited Ballinsloe.

As part of its strategy to attract inward investment, IDA Ireland introduces a prospective client company to 3 or 4 selected locations, which meet the company's requirements in terms of skills, labour, site, buildings and infrastructure. In undertaking this process, IDA seeks to include locations which have been affected by closures/job losses. Priority is also accorded to the Border, Midlands and West regions. While IDA aims to influence the selection of location, the final decision on location is always taken by the promoting company.

IDA is investing significantly in the provision of world class property solutions in the West region. IDA has developed Business and Technology Parks in Ballinsaloe, Tuam and Parkmore and a BioPharma Strategic Site at Oranmore. The IDA has developed a c. 13.15 hectare (c. 33 acre) Business and Technology Park in Ballinalsoe, of which c. 9.70 hectares (c.24 acres) is available for new investment. Valois, a manufacturer of cosmetic dispensing systems, and Creagh Medical,

(formerly USCI), an Enterprise Ireland client and medical technology company occupy 25,000 sq ft and a 29,000 sq. ft. advanced technology facilities respectively.

IDA recognises the need to provide high value employment opportunities in County Galway, including the Gateway City of Galway and the key towns of Ballinsaloe and Tuam, which will provide sustainable long -term jobs. IDA's strategies have proved successful to date, despite the difficult global economic conditions.

The following are some recent significant investments announced in the West region:

Covidien, a leading global supplier of healthcare products is investing €900,000 in medical technologies research and development projects with NUI Galway, during the next two years. This is the first phase of a multi-part investment of €1.8 million with Irish academic institutions which Covidien announced in July.

Recently, I announced that a global leader in operational endpoint security, Lumension, is expanding its Galway-based global R & D Centre. The company, which established the operation in October 2009 with the intention of employing 30 people in the facility, now expects to employ over 50 people by the end of 2010.

In addition, Merit Medical is to invest €6.7 million in expanding its operation in Galway with the creation of 100 new jobs

Other investment announcements in 2010 were:

Electronic Arts is to open a European customer service and operations centre for its BioWare studio in Galway creating 200 new jobs and will be operational in 2011.

Valeo, which is located in Tuam, Co. Galway, is to invest further in its Irish operations by embarking on a major Research and Development (R &D) Programme and expansion to target the growing market for vision systems in the automotive industry. The company will significantly expand its operations in Tuam in order to target a growing share of the camera vision market with the development of the next generation of new camera/vision systems.

StreamServ Inc, a leading provider of business communications solutions is to establish an Inside Sales and Customer Care Operation in Galway, creating 20 jobs.

The level of foreign direct investment in Ireland relative to the size of the economy is one of the highest in Europe. I am confident, therefore, that the policies being pursued in County Galway, together with the ongoing commitment to regional development will bear fruit in terms of international investment and job creation in the County, including Ballinasloe.