Written answers

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Job Creation

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the opportunities which could be realised in Mullingar with regard to employment for the region considering her recent visit to the IDA business park in Mullingar and the job losses in the town. [22546/16]

Photo of Mary Mitchell O'ConnorMary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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There are 16 IDA Ireland client companies currently in Westmeath, employing approximately 2,300 people. In 2015, 212 new foreign direct investment (FDI) jobs were created in the county. IDA Ireland actively engages with its existing client base in Westmeath which has, as the above statistics reflect, performed consistently in recent years. A good example of positive investment into the county was the announcement last year by Patterson Pumps of a 30-person expansion at its manufacturing facility there.

There is clearly, however, potential for further investment and job creation by multinational companies in Westmeath. Last month I visited Mullingar where I met the local Chamber of Commerce and visited the IDA Business Park. This allowed me to see, first-hand, what the County has to offer to investors. The IDA will continue to work to highlight the advantages of Westmeath to multi-national companies considering investing in the region or Ireland as a whole. I know certainty that you Deputy Burke and Senator McFadden will keep up the pressure for investments. I enjoyed meeting the Mergon Group last month.

I very much regret the jobs losses that have arisen as a result of the closure of Imperial Tobacco. I have asked both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to redouble their efforts to find a replacement investment. More broadly, regional development is a key priority of mine and I am determined to see increased job creation across Ireland, especially in areas affected by recent company closures.

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