Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will direct the Industrial Development Agency to increase the number of itineraries for potential investors in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14339/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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IDA's strategy document, entitled "Horizon 2020", sets out the Agency's targets for the period 2010 to 2014. The investment targets set out in this strategy include the creation of 62,000 direct new jobs with 105,000 total jobs impact in Ireland during that period and also includes a target of 50% of these investments to be based in locations outside of Dublin and Cork.

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

IDA Ireland's focus in the county is the town of Monaghan and this focus extends to all target sectors under Horizon 2020. The improvement in access to Monaghan with the completion of the Carrickmacross bypass and Castleblayney bypass together with major improvements on the N2 nearer Dublin will help to enhance the attractiveness of County Monaghan for Foreign Direct Investment.

IDA is aware of the developments to take place in Monaghan with the development of the VEC education campus with possible enterprise space linked to Project Kelvin. This has the potential to be attractive to new clients of IDA and Enterprise Ireland.