James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the role of the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland in bringing employment to the towns of Longford, Mullingar, Granard, Edgeworthstown, Lanesboro and Ballymahon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18969/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Jobs has set a target of supporting the creation of 100,000 net new jobs over the period 2012 to 2016, with the longer term objective of having 2 million people at work by 2020. In order to reach this target it will be necessary to implement radical reform across Government and the economy to make it easier for businesses to establish, thrive and create jobs.

IDA Ireland is the Agency charged with the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland, while Enterprise Ireland is responsible for developing indigenous industry. Client companies of both agencies employ over 6,000 people in permanent employment in Counties Longford and Westmeath.

Enterprise Ireland client companies located in Counties Longford and Westmeath were paid €4.3m in 2011 for job creation and retention and business development purposes. In addition, Innovation Vouchers were awarded to 30 companies based in these counties during 2011. This Enterprise Ireland run scheme awards eligible companies €5,000 worth of research and development with knowledge providers such as the local Athlone Institute of Technology. Shasta Ltd in Co. Longford and Nopsar Ltd in Co. Westmeath are High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) companies that recently received investment from Enterprise Ireland.

IDA Ireland has strong relationships with its client companies and works closely with them in order to ensure their long term sustainability and encourage their growth, development, broadening of their mandate and continuing re-investment in their sites.

With the improved infrastructure that is now in place, a significant number of people commute within the Midlands Region and a project win in one Midlands town has a positive impact on the other surrounding areas due to the close proximity of all main locations. It must be acknowledged, however, that there is intense international competition to win FDI, which is mainly dominated by Metro City Regions with populations in excess of 1 million. Ireland has one Metro Region, the Greater Dublin area, so in order to achieve balanced regional development IDA Ireland focuses on promoting Gateway locations within each Region as the areas of critical mass and highlights the opportunities provided by Hub locations which are within commuting distances of these Gateways. In that context, the Midlands Gateway of Mullingar, Tullamore and Athlone is a key focus of IDA Ireland and the agency markets the Midlands Gateway for new Greenfield investments through its network of overseas offices. While IDA Ireland seeks to influence the location of investments it must be remembered that, ultimately, it is the investor who decides where to locate.