Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the element of Industrial Development Agency new investment, research and development expenditure, and new jobs, related to County Donegal, in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18402/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Approximately 70% of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from the existing client base. IDA has a structured client engagement process aimed at assisting existing investors evolve and grow through a company transformation process. This involves many dimensions from new mandates, R&D activities, retraining and in some cases managing job reductions.

Although there were no R&D grant payments to IDA Ireland client companies in County Donegal during 2014, a total of €1,889,800 in employment grants were paid to client companies in the County during the year.

IDA Ireland continues to invest in its clients in the county and in many cases these investments are not publicly announced.

The Annual Employment Survey, which tracks employment levels in companies that are clients of the Enterprise Development agencies shows that employment in IDA Ireland client companies in Donegal rose from 2,387 in 2013 to 2,612 in 2014 an increase of over 9%.