Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency supported projects that have been located in County Wicklow in the past three years; the number of jobs that these projects have generated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41562/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Details of the number of IDA Ireland client companies located in County Wicklow in each of the last three years, 2009 to 2011, the number of people employed in those companies, as well as the number of new jobs created in IDA Ireland supported companies in the county are set out in the tabular statement.

In accordance with its Horizon 2020 Strategy, IDA Ireland is aiming to create 63,000 direct jobs in 640 investments over the period 2010 to 2014, with 50% of these investments located outside of Dublin and Cork. In implementing this Strategy, the Agency has pointed out; however, that as Ireland competes for high quality investments, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading global corporations require a significant population, a pool of qualified talent, world standard physical and digital infrastructure coupled with the availability of sophisticated professional and business support services. Ireland has only one Metro Region, the Greater Dublin area, so, in order to achieve regional economic development, IDA Ireland prioritises the marketing of Gateway locations within each Region as the areas of critical mass (i.e. sufficient scale of population/skills/infrastructure/companies/business services/etc.) and highlights the opportunities provided by Hub locations which are within commuting distances of these Gateways.

The East Region has one Gateway (Dublin) and a number of large towns including Arklow in County Wicklow. IDA Ireland has assured me that, in addition to continuing to seek new foreign direct investment opportunities in Wicklow and the East Region, it will continue to work with existing clients in encouraging them to broaden their mandate and to continue to re-invest in their sites within Wicklow.

Table showing the number of IDA client companies located in County Wicklow in the three year period 2009 to 2011 inclusive, together with the total numbers employed in those companies and the number of new jobs created in each of those years