Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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76. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps which are presently being taken to bring new employment to the town of Ballinasloe, County Galway; the number of Industrial Development Agency/Enterprise Ireland site visits to the town in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36017/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by IDA Ireland that in the five year period 2009 to 2013 inclusive, there have been a total of 131 IDA sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Galway. These site visits were from new companies visiting the location for the first time and from senior executives of existing companies. For reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, details of such visits are provided on a county by county basis only. As Enterprise Ireland’s core focus is supporting the internationalisation of indigenous companies, the Agency does not arrange site visits of a type similar to IDA Ireland.

Details of the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Galway in respect of each of the years in question are set out in the attached tabular statement.

County Galway has had particular success in recent years in terms of attracting inward investment particularly in the areas of Medical Technologies and ICT. At the end of 2013 there were 60 IDA Ireland client companies in Galway City and County employing over 13,600 people in full and part time employment. Similarly, at the end of 2013 there were 273 Enterprise Ireland client companies in Co. Galway employing almost 7,000 people in full and part time employment.

IDA Ireland is actively marketing the former AT Cross building in Ballinasloe to potential investors and details of it have been forwarded a number of times to potential investors as a potential property solution and we will continue to do so along with marketing the available lands in the IDA Business and Technology Park in Ballinasloe.

Enterprise Ireland continues to promote employment throughout the county, including Ballinasloe by providing a wide range of supports to existing exporters to help them win new business from outside Ireland. The Agency also encourages the creation of new high potential start-up companies and promotes exporting as a new revenue stream for companies that have not exported previously. In addition, they support local communities to nurture enterprise locally through supporting the development of Community Enterprise Centres.

As the Deputy will be aware, on 15 April last the new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) were established as the primary source of support for small and micro enterprises across the country. The new service means that national enterprise policy and local business supports have been brought together to strengthen the local business culture and environment, combining the best of the former County and City Enterprise Boards and the Local Authorities, overseen by the Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Ireland.

The LEOs are the first-stop-shop front-line service assisting in delivering business growth and jobs. They provide both financial and soft supports, and pull together all the players – other Government Departments and Agencies – to support everyone with a good business idea, strengthen the enterprise sector in the local area and, ultimately, support the delivery of more jobs within their local area.

The Action Plan for Jobs 2014 includes a commitment to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of the enterprise development agencies and other regional stakeholders in supporting enterprises. My intention is that the framework will be developed on a pilot basis initially, focusing on the Midlands region, and involving the agencies under the remit of my own Department – Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. The objective is to enhance synergies between the agencies and their client companies and build on the competitive strengths of the region to maximise the potential for job creation. The role which other public bodies in the region can play in working towards this objective will also be examined as the project develops. The aim is that this framework will serve as a model for other regions of the country.

On 30 July 2014 I launched my Department's Policy Statement on foreign Direct Investment in Ireland which sets out the strategic direction for foreign direct investment to 2020 and the key actions needed to enhance Ireland’s attractiveness and business environment in the context of intensified international competition for investment and talent.

IDA Ireland are currently developing a new corporate strategy for the period 2015 – 2020 which reflects this policy statement and the need to address regional issues.

Table showing the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Galway from 2009 to 2013.