Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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83. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a location (details supplied) in County Kerry will be studied by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland for the way it has attracted and retained domestic and foreign direct investment, and large employers; if the area will be promoted as a success story, in an effort to attract further jobs and investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19035/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Killorglin is a shining example of a strong rural town that has a strong economy primarily due to a handful of great companies at its core. Having Fexco which employs approximately 850 people is the real source of this success.

The employment performance in Killorglin is down to the overall calibre and number of successful companies based in the town, some of which have been in the town for decades and is complemented in turn by a number of other companies, some of which are spin-outs of Fexco.

It is to be welcomed that Fexco, one of the most successful indigenous financial services companies, started in the town over twenty years ago and has remained there, and that a number of other local businesses have thrived on the back of good economic activity generated by this company. The two IDA Pharma Companies in the town, i.e. Astellas and Temmler also play a significant role. There is also a number of engineering companies which have been based in the area for twenty years.

In promoting Kerry as a location for investment, IDA Ireland relies strongly on the success of reference companies - both overseas and indigenous in a region to promote it as a location to prospective investors. In the case of Kerry, the Agency actively includes reference companies including Astellas, Temmler and Fexco. In addition, other companies throughout the county are also profiled as part of efforts to promote Kerry.

The retention and attraction of large numbers of young people in Killorglin and the greater Mid-Kerry area has been a major economic boost to other businesses in the area such as shops, pubs, restaurants, builders, etc., which has in turn increased overall employment.

As the Deputy is aware, officials of my Department and its Agencies are actively engaged with regional stakeholders in the development of individual Regional Action Plans including the South West Region, which will be published in the near future. Counties Kerry and Cork make up the South West Region.