Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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354. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Industrial Development Agency and Enterprise Ireland visits that have taken place in County Sligo since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20664/15]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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356. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views that improved road infrastructure, such as the proposed upgrade for the N4 route in County Sligo, is vital for the county to be able to attract foreign direct investment companies in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20707/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 356 together.

I am informed by IDA Ireland that since 2011 there have been 28 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Sligo. Details of the number of these visits are set out in the attached tabular statement. 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.

Between 2008 - 2010, over 580 jobs were lost in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. Since 2011, the number of people at work in Enterprise Ireland and IDA supported companies has increased by over 270 people since 2010 (a 7% increase). In addition, the Local Enterprise Office Sligo supports 202 companies which employ over 1,100 people. 70 net new jobs were created in 2014 which represents a 6% increase.

IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to specific locations in Ireland are only part of the long and complicated process involved in attracting foreign direct investment to this country. These site visits may take place at the beginning or end of the process and in some cases there are no site visits involved. Site visits, when they do occur, involve new companies visiting a location for the first time and senior executives of existing companies. For reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, IDA Ireland does not comment publicly on the success rate of such site visits. Earlier this year IDA Ireland launched its 5 year strategy for the period 2015 to 2019 which aims to create 80,000 new jobs in the economy over the period and increase investment into each region by between 30% and 40%. Additionally, a €150 million property investment plan, spread out over five years, will support the achievement of the organisation’s regional goals. The funding will be used to upgrade Ireland’s Business and Technology parks, make investments in a number of strategic utility-intensive sites and build new advanced technology buildings in a number of regional locations including Sligo in the North West. The design and planning process has commenced and full planning permission should be received in the second half of 2015 with construction on site to commence after this and the procurement stages.

As the Deputy is aware, officials of my Department and its agencies are actively engaged with regional stakeholders in the development of individual Action Plans for each of the regions, including the North West Region, which will be published in the near future. Counties Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim make up the North West Region.

The provision of roads is outside the remit of my Department, however, IDA Ireland works closely with the Local Authorities through established forums to ensure the North West continues to enhance its offering for prospective clients. IDA Ireland supports the development of infrastructure that makes the North West a more accessible place to do business and works with stakeholders to see that all aspects of the North West are attractive from a client’s perspective.

Table shows the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits to County Sligo since 2011