Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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94. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Industrial Development Agency Ireland has specific leads in relation to locating potential clients at the new advance factory in its business and technology park in Garrycastle, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39963/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by IDA Ireland that it is actively seeking an investment for the new building in Garrycastle, and it is confident of a positive outcome. Property is one of the key considerations for clients when choosing a location, and the availability of such a building in Garrycastle will be an additional positive element in the overall offering of the Midlands. The new advance factory in Garrycastle forms part of the Government’s €250m Regional Action Plan for Jobs. €150m is earmarked for the construction of 12 advance factories and other property infrastructure, which will give regional locations access to modern, turnkey property solutions, which when combined with a strong local talent pool and existing FDI clusters will give these locations an enhanced proposition to offer international investors.

IDA promotes Westmeath as part of the Midlands Region, which also includes Longford, Laois and Offaly. There are 35 multinational companies employing 4,032 within the region. The region is marketed as having a strong cluster in medical technology and life sciences and is home to many key clients, one such example being Covidien in Athlone. The number of people employed in IDA supported companies in Westmeath, has increased by 375 between 2011-2014 (a 19% increase)

A digital marketing campaign is in place to market the Midland Region for potential investors and this is used overseas by IDA Ireland executives, to showcase potential locations within the Midlands Region including Westmeath.

The Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative was launched in February of this year and aims to identify a range of actions which will help each region to achieve its economic potential. The Action Plan for Jobs: Midland Region was launched on the 29th June. This plan sets out over 120 actions aimed to deliver enhanced employment growth in the region over the coming years with a target of increasing employment in the region by 10-15 % by 2020. The overall ambition of the Action Plan for Jobs – Midland Region is to increase employment by approximately 14,000 by 2020.

Supporting the achievement of this goal a new IDA Regional Business Development Manager was appointed to the Midland Region earlier this year. IDA Ireland continues to actively engage with existing clients in the region to support them in growing their business to retain jobs and expand their existing footprint in the region. In cooperation with Enterprise Ireland, IDA is also engaged in introducing indigenous companies to multinational companies to give them an opportunity to present their offering and increase their ability to win new contracts helping to secure their sustainability.

IDA Ireland also has regular engagement with the Chief Executives of the local authorities of Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly to ensure that there is a continuous line of communication open and a mutually supportive approach taken, considering the role that Local Authorities now have for economic development

Competition for FDI is intense globally with virtually every country in the world actively seeking new FDI investments. IDA Ireland will continue to actively incentivise and encourage investors to consider a wide range of potential locations in Ireland. The ultimate decision on location, however, rests with the client.