Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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635. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the properties owned by the IDA in County Laois; and the location of each. [1452/18]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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637. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA visits to County Laois in 2017. [1482/18]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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638. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs created by the IDA in County Laois in 2017. [1484/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 635, 637 and 638 together.

IDA Ireland remains focused on attracting job-rich foreign direct investment (FDI) to all regions of Ireland, including County Laois. The Agency continues to work towards its goal, set out in its current strategy, of increasing investment in every region by 30%-40% by 2019.

Laois is marketed by IDA as part of the Midlands Region, which also comprises counties Westmeath, Offaly and Longford. There are 34 multinational companies based in the Midlands - two of which are in Laois - employing a total 4,327 people. In 2017, a total of 119 people were employed in IDA client companies in Laois, representing a slight increase on the 2016 total of 115.

Site visits represent one tool through which the IDA has sought to encourage more investment in Laois. There were two such visits to the County in the first nine months of 2017. Details on the total number of site visits in 2017 will be available in February 2018.

The availability of property solutions for prospective investors remains important in helping to attract FDI to a particular region or County. In respect of Laois, the IDA has developed an 18-hectare Business and Technology Park in Portlaoise, at a cost of €3.2 Million. This Business Park is suitable for a range of clients and is being actively marketed by the Agency to potential investors.