Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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325. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of visits made by the Industrial Development Agency to County Westmeath in 2014 and to date in 2015; the number of such visits during which entrepreneurs and investors examined the potential of Marlinstown Industrial Park in Mullingar, County Westmeath; the plans for visits within the next six months to the said site; the prospects of securing appropriate investment, in order to secure employment for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23325/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by IDA Ireland that information in relation to sponsored site visits by potential investors is provided on a county by county basis only and that during 2014 there were 12 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to County Westmeath. In the first quarter of 2015, there have been 10 site visits to County Westmeath. For reasons of commercial sensitivity and client confidentiality IDA Ireland does not comment on upcoming site visits by potential investors.

Westmeath is marketed as part of the Midlands Region which also comprises counties Longford, Laois and Offaly.

IDA Ireland is and will continue to market the Mullingar Business and Technology Park through its network of overseas offices and present it to potential clients where the facility is considered to be a suitable property solution to meet their needs.

I understand from IDA Ireland that the office park in Marlinstown is not an IDA Ireland Business and Technology Park. However, I have been assured by the Agency that it is also happy to promote the property to a potential and suitable investor should the opportunity arise.

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. An advanced office building is planned for 2017 for Co. Westmeath as part of the programme.

It is also important to recognise the vital role that Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices have in building an indigenous engine of growth by developing the capacity of indigenous companies to scale and create the jobs we need. There are more people employed in indigenous Irish companies backed by Enterprise Ireland than in multinational companies backed by IDA Ireland. In 2014, more jobs were created by companies backed by Enterprise Ireland than by companies backed by IDA Ireland.

In 2014, 72% of net new jobs created by companies supported by Enterprise Ireland were outside of Dublin. In 2014, the number of people employed in companies supported by the Local Enterprise Offices increased in every county with 80% of the net new jobs created being outside of Dublin.

Every region in the country saw jobs growth from IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. In total, 65% of the additional new jobs created in companies supported by my Department through the Local Enterprise Offices, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland were outside of Dublin. For information, I have provided a regional breakdown of net new jobs created in 2014 by agency.