Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if he will provide the Industrial Development Agency with a sat-nav as perhaps then they could find County Kerry, go there and do something about creating some few jobs if possible, as County Kerry also is part of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12123/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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There are 15 IDA supported companies in Kerry employing 1,313 people.

IDA Ireland continues to promote Kerry for new inward investment across the ICT, International Financial Services and Globally Traded Business sectors. In line with the National Spatial Strategy, the Agency concentrates its efforts on the linked hub locations of Killarney in South Kerry and Tralee in North Kerry.

In addition to attracting new foreign direct investment, IDA works closely with its existing clients in Kerry to encourage them to expand their operations in the county. The Agency also co-operates with educational institutions in the region in developing the skill sets necessary to attract high value-added investment, and with FÁS in developing the skill sets necessary for upskilling the existing workforce.

As part of its investment offering, IDA markets all available land and buildings in the county including the Agency's 12 acre Business & Technology Park at Tiernaboul, Killarney and the Kerry Technology Park in Tralee, which is owned and managed by Shannon Development in partnership with the Institute of Technology Tralee.

However, the challenge in achieving an even spread of investment across the country is intensified as the sophistication of investments increase. These investments require a concentration of highly qualified and educated workers, supporting infrastructure and high level business services. Frequently, competition for FDI comes from city regions with populations in excess of one million people. Dublin is the only recognised city region of scale in Ireland.

In selecting locations to show companies, IDA Ireland seeks to include locations which have been affected by closures/job losses. Typically, a company is shown three or four selected towns, which can meet its requirements for skills, labour, site and/or buildings, infrastructure, etc. While IDA Ireland seeks to influence the selection of location, the final decision on location is taken in all cases by the promoting company.

The Deputy will also note that the recent Jobs Initiative had a significant focus on Tourism. The VAT rate reduction and abolition of the Travel Tax will provide an important stimulus to tourism businesses in Kerry and around the country.