Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Industrial Development Agency has significantly increased its visitor numbers to the empty IDA park in Mullingar. [2715/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In line with the National Spatial Strategy, IDA Ireland's strategy "Horizon 2020" places renewed emphasis on the "Gateway" regions. The gateways in Ireland are regarded as critical growth areas for the future. Successful enterprise development and the creation of an attractive location are interdependent. Regions/gateways that support strong and dynamic enterprise are crucial to Ireland's return to balanced economic growth. In that context, the Midlands Gateway of Mullingar, Tullamore and Athlone are a key focus of IDA.

As well as marketing the region for new Greenfield investments, IDA continues to work with existing clients in encouraging them to broaden their mandate and to continue to re-invest in their sites within the region. IDA has informed me that it has invested significantly in developing the Business and Technology Park in Mullingar in order to make it attractive to overseas clients and that it will continue to promote this Park and other local private property solutions to secure new investments for Mullingar and its surrounding areas.

The table below sets out details on the number of site visits to Mullingar and to the broader Midlands Region in 2011:

First Time Site Visits to Midlands Region & Mullingar in 2011

To date, in 2012, there has yet to be a site visit to Mullingar.

In seeking to attract FDI to Ireland, it must be acknowledged that 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 which location a company will visit and locate in is made by the promoting company.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there has been any talks between the Industrial Development Agency and a company (details supplied) regarding its interest in locating to the IDA in Mullingar. [2716/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland maintains close contact with all of its key strategic clients including this company. However, IDA must maintain the strictest confidence in relation to any potential projects, with non-disclosure agreements in many cases.

If a new investor or an existing client looking to expand requires assistance from IDA, typically, a company is shown a number of locations which can meet its requirements in terms of skills, labour, site and/or buildings, infrastructure, etc. IDA also seeks to include locations which have been affected by closures/job losses. While IDA seeks to influence the selection of location, the final decision on location is taken in all cases by the promoting company.