Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland maintains statistics of site visits by potential investors on a county-by-county basis only. From 2011 to 2015, there were a total of 128 visits by potential investors to County Galway. The year-by-year breakdown is set out in the following table.It is important to note that data on site visits is not an accurate measure of the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in a region or county. That is partly because approximately 70% of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base, rather than new companies.

IDA Ireland is committed to significantly increasing the number of investments outside Dublin and the agency continues to work with both stakeholders and existing clients with that goal in mind. While IDA Ireland does attempt to influence the choice of location, the final decision as to where to visit and ultimately locate is taken in all cases by the client company.

The true measure of FDI is reflected in IDA Ireland’s record 2015 results. IDA Ireland client companies created 18,983 jobs on the ground during the year across a range of sectors, with every region of Ireland posting net gains in jobs. Overall, there were 14,297 people employed in IDA Ireland client-companies in Galway in 2015, reflecting a net increase of 482 on 2014.

Site Visits to County Galway 2011-2015

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Renua Ireland)
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131. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of client visits hosted by the IDA Ireland by county for each year since 2011 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3754/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland maintains statistics of site visits by potential investors on a county-by-county basis only. Since 2011 there were a total of 1,969 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to various locations throughout the country. The following table sets out, on a county-by-county basis, the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits for each year from 2011 to 2015. It is important to note that data on site visits is not an accurate measure of the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in a region or county. That is partly because approximately 70% of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base, rather than new companies.

The Agency is continuing to work with both stakeholders and existing clients in order to attract increased investment in regional locations across the country. While IDA Ireland does attempt to influence the choice of location – and the Agency is committed to significantly increasing the number of investments outside Dublin – the final decision as to where to visit and ultimately locate is taken in all cases by the client company.

The true measure of FDI is reflected in IDA Ireland’s record 2015 results. IDA Ireland client companies created just under 19,000 (18,983) jobs on the ground during the year across a range of sectors, with every region of Ireland posting net gains in jobs.

Table shows the number of IDA Ireland sponsored site visits, on a county by county basis for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015