Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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297. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of itineraries arranged by any of the State agencies under his remit that have visited Kildare South in each of the past five years; the towns visited; the results of any of such visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1024/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by IDA Ireland that in the past 5 years there has been a total of 8 IDA sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Kildare. Site visits are recorded by IDA Ireland only on a county basis. Detail of the number of site visits conducted in each of the 5 years 2009 to 2013 is set out on the attached tabular statement.

When showing locations to potential investors, IDA has to be credible and competitive in its approach, in the context of the stiff international competition for mobile FDI i.e. locations must meet the criteria of the client company in respect of skills, labour, site and/or buildings infrastructure. Kildare has a strong reputation as a location with a strong track record for attracting leading and world class manufacturing companies such as Intel, Pfizer, Braun, Hewlett Packard and Proctor and Gamble. In all there are 25 IDA companies in Kildare employing 10,172 people.

Enterprise Ireland, which deals with indigenous industry, does not conduct similar type site visits but Enterprise Ireland Executives work regularly in the field in Kildare meeting with clients. These meetings range from introductory meetings with potential entrepreneurs to strategic planning meetings with established companies to promote expansion in addition to visits with community groups to advance enterprise infrastructure in the community. In addition Enterprise Ireland arranges international buyer visits to Ireland. These visits are focussed on sectors rather than specific geographic locations. In 2013, Enterprise Ireland attracted over 900 international buyers to Ireland. These buyers are from a variety of industry sectors, are targeted to meet companies nationwide in specific sector/business area of interest to the buyer and not for a specific location/county. This major drive is critical at a time when Irish companies are under pressure to both maintain sales with existing customers and secure new customers. A key aspect of the Inward Buyer plan is to focus on strong business prospects to maximise “conversion” of these initial inward buyer visits undertaken into solid orders for Enterprise Ireland clients.

Table showing the number of IDA sponsored site visits to Kildare in each of the years 2009 to 2013 inclusive.