Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the actions taken by her Department and State agencies to identify a positive regional spread to foreign direct investment which may arise as a result of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33303/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Government remains committed to ensuring the most even possible spread of foreign direct investment (FDI), whether Brexit-related or otherwise, throughout the country. This is evidenced by the IDA's commitment - reaffirmed last week at the Agency's announcement of its mid-year results - of increasing FDI in every region of Ireland by 30% to 40% by 2019. Progress is being made towards that target and in 2016 over half of the jobs created by the IDA supported companies were outside Dublin. Projects announced by IDA client companies in 2017 also reflect a continuing trend of increased investment in regional Ireland by overseas firms.

The IDA, in its engagement with prospective new or expanding investors, always promotes the benefits of regional Ireland. This includes detailing the strengths and advantages that Ireland's regions may enjoy over the country's main urban areas. Available properties in the regions that may be suitable for investors are also regularly brought to the attention of overseas companies considering expanding or locating here.

It is important to remember that while the IDA does everything in its power to ensure an even spread of investments across Ireland, the ultimate decision on where to locate is always taken by the company itself. It is also the case that certain investors sometimes have a strong preference for our major urban areas on account of their own commercial or operational reasons.