Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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447. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits carried out by the Industrial Development Agency to Mullingar, Athlone and Longford since 2011 and the outcome of such visits. [34360/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by IDA Ireland that, from the beginning of 2011 to date in 2013, there have been a total of 25 site visits by potential investors to County Westmeath, but there have been no such visits to County Longford. Details of the number of site visits in each of the years in question are set out in the attached tabular statement.

Following on from these site visits, I understand that some further due diligence is on-going by some of the companies involved, while others have chosen other locations for their investments, both nationally and internationally. In addition, some announcements for the region are pending.

IDA Ireland has explained that, as Ireland competes for high quality investments, the concept of scale is crucial. Leading global corporations require a significant population pool, access to qualified talent, world standard physical and digital infrastructure coupled with the availability of sophisticated professional and business support services.

Counties Westmeath and Longford form part of IDA’s Midlands Region along with Counties Offaly, Roscommon and Laois. In the Midlands Region IDA markets the towns of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar as the urban centres of scale in the region with other locations such as Portlaoise, Roscommon and Longford being marketed as locations which are open for business but only to clients whose requirements can be met by those locations.

In the region as a whole, there are currently 44 IDA Ireland client companies employing over 5,000 people. IDA Ireland has formed strong relationships with these companies and, having regard to the fact that 70% approximately of all FDI investments won by IDA is from the existing client base, continues to work closely with them in order to ensure their long term sustainability and to encourage their growth, development and continuing re-investment in their sites.

Table showing the number of site visits by potential IDA investors to County Westmeath in each of the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013