Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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161. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of employees in Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland companies in the constituency of Louth East Meath for each year since 2010, by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16533/15]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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162. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits by the Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland to the constituency of Louth East Meath for each year since 2013, by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16534/15]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the available land and buildings, by location, in the ownership of the Industrial Development Agency and-or Enterprise Ireland in the constituency of Louth East Meath, including where applicable if such land and premises have already acquired planning permission or are in the course of such application; if the State agencies are acquiring further land and premises, by location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16535/15]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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164. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a survey has been completed by State agencies or his Department on the availability of land and-or premises in private ownership, by location, in the constituency of Louth East Meath suitable for industrial development ; if not, if such a survey will be carried out urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16536/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 to 164, inclusive, together.

The Annual Employment Survey provides details on the numbers of jobs created and lost in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies. Information is collected on an annual basis and aggregated at county level only. Information is provided by the companies on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only so it is not possible to provide information for individual locations. Details of the numbers employed in IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland client companies in each of the years 2010 to 2014 for the counties of Louth and Meath are set out in the tabular statement.

I am informed by IDA Ireland that in the two year period 2013 and 2014 there were 14 sites visits by potential investors to County Louth and 3 such visits to County Meath. The number of site visits to each county in each year is set out in the tabular statement.

It should be noted that site visits are only one part of a longer negotiation process between IDA Ireland and a client company and it is important to note that data on site visits is not a true measure nor does it reflect the level of FDI activity in a Region or in a County. Depending on the sector scale and complexity of the investment won by IDA Ireland, there could be a lead period of up to 3 to 5 years before an investment is fully implemented as approved. The final decision as to where to locate an investment does and always will reside with the client company. Approximately 70% of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base. IDA Ireland has strong relationships with all of its client companies and works closely with them to ensure their long term sustainability and encourage their growth, development and continuing re investment in their sites.

In respect of property, Enterprise Ireland does not have a property portfolio and, where necessary, IDA Ireland provides property solutions for Enterprise Ireland client companies. There are IDA Business and Technology Parks located in both Drogheda and Dundalk, while in County Meath there is a Business park located in Navan. In addition IDA has developed a major land bank at Mullagharlin to the south of the town of Dundalk. This extends to 150 acres in two parcels of 110 acres and 40 acres respectively. These lands currently have valid planning permission in place for an Advance Biopharmaceutical and Knowledge Industry Campus which will support biopharmaceutical administration, research and support activities. The planning permission is valid until 2018.

In February of this year, as part of its Regional Action Plan for Jobs, the Government announced the provision of additional capital funding of €150 million over 5 years to IDA Ireland to enable it to provides a variety of property solutions designed to win additional projects for the regions outside Dublin and Cork. These will involve advance buildings, improvements of existing parks, and the acquisition and servicing of suitable sites. About 30% of the money has been allocated to the construction of nine advance facilities. One of the new planned advanced building solutions will be in IDA’s Dundalk Business and Technology Park. The design and planning process is due to commence in the fourth quarter of this year.

IDA regularly monitors the market to maintain an awareness of available land and buildings, in the private sector, suitable to FDI. Finally, the inclusion of Kells in the national Regional Aid Map will further enhance the prospects of attracting new investment and the expansion of existing enterprises, both foreign and indigenous, in County Meath. Two US companies opened their offices in Kells in November 2014 as a result of the Succeed in Ireland Initiative, which is implemented by Connect Ireland on behalf of IDA Ireland.

Table showing the numbers employed in Enterprise Ireland client companies in County Louth and Meath in each year from 2010 to 2014