Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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16. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the work of the IDA in marketing County Kildare as a jobs location in the past five years; the number of site visits that have taken place in that time and other initiatives that have taken place to contribute to highlighting County Kildare as a destination for new businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14430/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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According to the 2016 Annual Employment Survey, conducted by my Department, there are 23 IDA supported client companies, employing 10,139 staff in County Kildare.  Under IDA’s strategy, the Agency aims to increase investment by 30-40% in each region outside of Dublin by 2019.

From 2012 to 2016, there were 18 site visits to Kildare. Visits to the county rose from one in 2014 to eight in 2016. Data on site visits is collated on a quarterly basis. Q1 2017 figures will be available next month. 

Kildare is a part of the Mid-East region along with Meath and Wicklow, and has the lowest unemployment rate in the State at just 5.3%.  The Mid East Action Plan for Jobs was launched in January 2016, and aimed to increase employment in the region by 10-15% over the course of the Plan to 2020.  The first progress report was published in Q4 2016 shows the significant progress made to date.  163 of the Plan’s actions are currently underway.  IDA Ireland has appointed a dedicated Regional Business Development Manager for the Mid East and an additional 2,100 people entered employment in the last quarter of 2016 alone.

Site Visits to Kildare 2012-2016