Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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28. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for an update on new investment, research and development expenditure, and new jobs by the IDA related to County Donegal in 2015; how this compares to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37941/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland markets Donegal as part of its North West Region, which also comprises Leitrim and Sligo. The main FDI activity clusters that have emerged in the North West are in the life sciences and engineering sectors, particularly in the manufacture of medical devices and automotive components. There are also a small number of large employers in the financial services sector, particularly in Letterkenny and a growing pharma sector in Sligo.

The number of jobs in IDA Ireland client companies in county Donegal, as per the 2014 Annual Employment Survey, rose from 1,854 in 2010 to 2,612 in 2014. I enclose the breakdown in the attached tabular statement. The figures for this year will not be available until the 2015 Annual Employment Survey is published early next year.

There are 41 multinational companies based in the North West, employing 5,294 across the Region (Annual Employment Survey 2014). Approximately 70% of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base. Given the global economic operating environment in recent years, the existing client base has performed well in not only retaining their presence in Donegal, but expanding the number of employees. The most recent example of this was the announcement in July of this year by Pramerica of the expansion of its facility in Donegal by 330 jobs.

During 2014, grant payments totalling €1,800,000 were made in respect of employment grants to an IDA Ireland client company located in Co. Donegal. There were no Research Development and Innovation grant payments in 2014.

The choice of location is driven by the client’s requirements and the suitability of the locations within the region. The final decision on where to locate an investment ultimately rests with the client company

IDA Ireland Client Company Jobs in Donegal 2010-2014