Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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639. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress that has been made in securing a replacement manufacturing industry for a site (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25532/17]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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640. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of site visits arranged by the IDA in marketing County Kildare as a jobs location in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25534/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 639 and 640 together.

Since HP Inc. made the regrettable decision to close its facility in Leixlip, the IDA has been actively promoting the site to existing clients and potential investors and will continue to do so in the time ahead. I am hopeful that a new investor will be identified in due course and that further employment opportunities will in turn be created for the people of Leixlip and the surrounding area. 

While HP Inc's decision is very disappointing, there remain over 20 other multinational companies in Kildare that employ 10,139 people in total across a broad range of sectors.  IDA Ireland continues to work with this client base to both sustain and grow employment further in the County.

In the first quarter of 2017, there were two site visits to Co. Kildare. It should be remembered that site visits are only one indicator of potential foreign direct investment activity.  It is also the case that significant new investments are often made by companies already in place in a County.