Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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20. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency organised visits by prospective investors to sites in County Limerick and in towns outside Limerick city, since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12013/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by IDA Ireland that since 2011, there has been a total of 98 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Limerick. Details of the number of site visits conducted in each of the years 2011 to date in 2014 are set out on the tabular statement.

IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors include visits to multiple locations where there are greenfield or current turn-key property solutions for them to consider. For reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, such as the potential impact on any future property transactions that may arise from a possible investment, it is prudent to provide details of such visits on a county by county basis only.

There are many complex factors influencing investor location decision-making such as the increasing preference of investors globally for cities of scale with 1 million plus population, significant challenges from lower cost locations in the UK and Eastern Europe and attractive regional aid. In all cases it is the investor who decides where to locate.

Limerick, along with Clare and North Tipperary, forms part of IDA’s Mid-West region. Within that region, IDA Ireland concentrates its efforts on the Limerick/Shannon gateway and the hub town of Ennis. With the improved infrastructure that is now in place, a project win in one location in a region has a positive economic impact on other areas within and in close proximity to that region. IDA Ireland works closely with third level educational institutions in the region so that the skill-sets necessary to attract high value added employment to the county are being developed.

At the end of 2013, there were 44 IDA Ireland supported companies in Co. Limerick employing 7,284 people. IDA Ireland has strong relationships with all these companies and works closely with them to ensure their long term sustainability and to encourage their growth, development and continuing re-investment in their sites. The primary opportunity for regional locations is in respect of the existing client base and potential further investment opportunities from same. Approximately 70% of all FDI investments won by IDA Ireland are from the existing client base.

In December 2013, I announced that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is to apply for planning permission to establish a state-of-the art, biopharmaceutical production facility within an 11.88 hectare site, previously owned by Dell in the Raheen Business Park, Limerick. Subject to planning approval from the local authority, the company expects to employ up to 300 people by the end of 2016, including scientists, engineers, technicians and administrative personnel. The proposed $300 million investment programme will involve the major refurbishment of existing buildings on the site and the construction of a quality control laboratory, which will transform the site into a world-class biopharmaceutical campus. Subject to a successful permit, construction and refurbishment is anticipated to begin in 2014 for a two year period, generating up to 600 temporary construction jobs for local contractors. There were a number of other IDA announcements for Limerick during 2013 including Vistakon (300jobs), EtQ (30 jobs) ACI Worldwide (60 jobs) and WWTS (62 jobs).

In accordance with the Government decision of November 2012, Shannon Development is being merged with Shannon Airport to form a new entity with a commercial mandate in public ownership. As part of the restructuring of Shannon Development, the enterprise support functions have transferred to IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. This will ensure the continuation of support to both FDI and indigenous enterprises in the region and will also allow the new Shannon Group, being formed from the combining of Shannon Airport Authority and Shannon Development to focus on the development of an International Aviation Service Centre in Shannon. IDA Ireland is assuming responsibility for FDI companies in the Shannon Free Zone, which currently has approximately 55 companies with over 5,000 employees. In addition, part of the restructuring will result in IDA purchasing lands in the National Technology Park in Limerick and the Raheen Business & Technology Park from Shannon Development.

Table showing the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits in County Limerick in each of the years 2011 to date in 2014