Written answers

Thursday, 28 February 2013

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

IDA Job Numbers

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new jobs created by new investments by Industrial Development Agency sponsored companies in County Donegal over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10819/13]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports, on a county basis, on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies. Information is provided by companies on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only. It is not possible, therefore, to provide information at company level or for individual locations throughout a particular country. It should be noted, also, that there is usually a time lag of between three and five years between the announcement of an investment and the jobs coming on stream as a result of that investment and that some investment and job creation projects are not announced.

I am informed by IDA Ireland that its client companies created a total of 739 new jobs in Donegal in the five year period from 2008 to 2012. Details of the number of new jobs created in each year are set out in the attached tabular statement. At present, there are 14 IDA Ireland client companies in Co. Donegal employing 2,228 people in full and part-time positions.

IDA Ireland has indicated that the challenge it faces is to continue to win top quality foreign direct investment (FDI) for Ireland in a very challenging global environment. International competition for FDI has become extremely intense and continues to increase. Leading global corporations require a significant population pool, access to qualified talent, world class physical and digital infrastructure as well as the availability of sophisticated professional and business support services. IDA Ireland, however, tries to influence these choices by prioritising the marketing of Gateway locations within each Region as the locations of critical mass with 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.

With continuing enhancement and improvements in physical and digital infrastructure, an FDI project secured for one Gateway can have a positive impact on other Gateways and their surrounding areas. It must be acknowledged, however, that the decision on where a client company will locate a new FDI investment is ultimately made by the senior managers of the companies involved.

I am mindful of the concerns that have been expressed by Deputies on all sides of the House about the relatively low level of site visits to certain regional locations and I have raised this matter with the CEO of IDA Ireland with a view to exploring what further initiatives can be taken to influence potential investors to invest in such locations.

I am mindful, also, that in order to ensure that Ireland can continue to compete globally for FDI, it will be necessary to undertake an in depth analysis of our FDI strategy with a view to informing the formulation of an appropriate strategy for the period post 2014. This analysis, which will be undertaken later this year, will take account of factors such as key trends emerging in FDI best practice internationally, Ireland’s strengths in attracting FDI, any changes to the EU’s State Aid rules that may be introduced in the near future and our agreed approach to regional development.

Notwithstanding the challenges it faces, IDA Ireland has assured me that it will in 2013, in accordance with the Government’s 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, seek to target more than 130 new investments, secure €500 million of R&D expenditure and create 13,000 new jobs in its client companies.

Table Showing the Number of New Jobs created in IDA Ireland Client Companies in County Donegal in each of the years 2008 to 2012

Employment
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Number of New Jobs created
67
63
152
271
186

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