Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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95. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs supported by IDA Ireland on 31 December 2016 and on 30 June 2017, respectively by county; the agency's strategy to ensure there is an equitable distribution of visits among counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34719/17]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs supported by IDA Ireland on 31 December 2015, on 31 December 2016 and on 30 June 2017 respectively, by local authority in the Dublin region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34720/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 96 together.

IDA Ireland maintains statistics on Agency-supported jobs on a county-by-county basis only. Information on the breakdown of such employment within individual local authorities is not available. In 2015, a total of 76,492 people were employed in Dublin by client companies of the Agency. This figure increased to 82,622 in 2016. Figures for the County for 2017 will be available early next year.

The following below outlines IDA Ireland supported jobs by county for 2016. These figures are compiled on an annual basis as part as the National Employment Survey which is produced later in the year. Figures for 2017 are not yet available.

IDA Ireland remains committed to increasing regional development. That is why the Agency has targeted a minimum increase in investment of 30% to 40% in each region outside of Dublin by the conclusion of its current strategy in 2019. Progress is being made towards that goal – in 2016 over half of all IDA Ireland supported jobs created were based outside of Dublin.

Site visits do represent an important tool in attracting investment and the IDA does its utmost to ensure that investors consider all potential locations. Determining which particular sites may be attractive to a client depends very much on the particular requirements of the company concerned. Factors that are habitually important to overseas investors include the suitability of local infrastructure, the proximity of transport hubs and the availability of skilled talent. It is often the case as well that multinational companies seek to base themselves as close as possible to businesses operating in the same industry.

The IDA always encourages clients to locate in areas that are most in need of investment. I am determined that this approach will continue so that the benefits of FDI are increasingly felt all across Ireland. We have to remember, however, that the ultimate decision as to where to invest is always taken by the company itself.  

Total number of IDA Jobs by County in 2016