Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency sponsored visits to Mullingar, Athlone and Longford on an annual basis since 2009; the number of those visits that ultimately led to a positive decision by the visiting industrialists to locate an industry in any of these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42249/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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One of the main challenges that IDA encounters in encouraging investment into locations outside of the large urban centres is the desire of investors to locate in areas with large population bases, typically with populations in excess of 1 million people. There is intense and continual international competition to win foreign direct investment, which is mainly dominated by Metro City Regions with populations in excess of 1 million i.e. London, Manchester, Boston, Los Angeles etc. Ireland has one Metro Region, the Greater Dublin area.

In order to achieve balanced regional development IDA focuses on marketing 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 addition, IDA continues to promote other locations as part of its marketing efforts in response to specific client requirements. I am informed by IDA that a potential investor is usually shown three or four locations within a Gateway Economic Region that can meet its requirements and, in certain cases; other locations are visited on an opportunistic basis. In selecting locations to market to client companies, IDA Ireland will endeavour to include locations which have been affected by closures/job losses. Whilst IDA Ireland seeks to influence the selection of a location, the final decision on where to locate is taken in all cases by the investor.

Mullingar, Athlone and Longford are situated in the IDA Midlands Region, which consists of the counties of Westmeath, Offaly, Laois, Longford and Roscommon. I am informed by IDA that since 2009, there have been 66 site visits by potential investors to the Midlands gateway towns, which include Athlone, Mullingar, Tullamore, Longford and Roscommon. Details of the number of site visits in each of the years from 2009 to date are shown in the tabular statement. In the same period IDA has announced 9 expansion/investment for the midland region with the potential to create in the region of 700 jobs. At present there are 44 IDA client companies in the Midlands Region employing over 4,600 people in permanent and temporary positions.

Table showing the number of site visits by potential investors to the Midland Gateway, which consists of the towns of Athlone, Mullingar, Tullamore, Longford and Roscommon in each of the years from 2009 to date