Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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30. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the IDA refuse to provide information as to the location of visits for the purpose of foreign direct investment in County Tipperary by town, without any other specific information regarding the visit, citing client confidentiality as the reason, when no client information is being sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6185/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As I have previously stated, IDA Ireland collates and releases data concerning its site visits on a county and regional basis only. Information on visits to specific locations within counties - whether in Tipperary or anywhere else -  can unfortunately not be disclosed in order to safeguard the confidentiality of the client concerned. This has long been the approach of IDA Ireland, given that the public release of particular details about individual visits could also lead to unnecessary speculation about investors and potential disappointment if a new project does not come to fruition. It is also the case that many multinational businesses specifically request that details of their site visits are not released.

It should be remembered that the decision by a company as to where to locate can be influenced by a number of factors. These include access to qualified talent, proximity to transport hubs, and the ready supply of suitable property. While IDA Ireland actively encourages its clients to locate or expand in regional locations, ultimately the final decision always rests with the company concerned.