Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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642. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made by IDA Ireland in securing investment for the IDA business park at Marlinstown, Mullingar; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24737/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland is making good progress towards reaching its target of increasing investment in each region of Ireland by 30%-40% by 2019. Last year, for example, over half of all new Agency-supported jobs were based outside of Dublin. As regards the Midlands region, which includes Westmeath, there are now 30 multinational companies based in the area.  13 of these companies are located in Westmeath itself, employing 2,571 staff. 

The availability of property solutions, such as the business park in Marlinstown, is an important factor in attracting and sustaining foreign direct investment in regional Ireland. I am informed by IDA Ireland that the Marlinstown facility is being actively marketed by the Agency to existing and potential clients.  The IDA remains focused on securing new investment for the business park and the wider area.