Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new first time investments by new IDA client companies in County Donegal for each of the past ten years; the percentage of the national total of new client investments in each of those years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42553/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In the past ten years there have been three new name investments in County Donegal out of a total of 18 investments in the County for that period. It is important to emphasise in this context, however, that foreign direct investment (FDI) performance is not necessarily reflected in new name investments, as almost 70% of all new FDI in Ireland comes from existing IDA client companies already situated in the country.

There has, as the evidence demonstrates, been a steady and positive increase in employment numbers in IDA Ireland client companies in Donegal over the past number of years. The County has experienced a 52% increase in FDI-driven employment since 2012 with job numbers in the Agency's client firms increasing from 2,223 in 2012 to 3,389 at the end of last year. This compares very favourably to the national average increase of 31% in FDI employment across that same period. In 2017 alone, the number of IDA supported jobs in Donegal increased by 11%, with the County now home to 12 IDA companies including SITA, Optibelt and Pramerica.

With respect to this year, the indications are that FDI in Donegal will continue to increase. For example, Abbott Laboratories has announced plans to expand its workforce in the County with the creation of 500 new jobs. Site visits by IDA client companies have also increased, with three visits as of the second quarter of 2018, compared to a total of two site visits in 2017.

While progress has been made in helping to generate new economic opportunities in Donegal, the Government remains determined to achieve more. That is why work is continuing to unlock further the economic potential in the County. The IDA remains pivotal to this and the Agency is engaging with its clients and with other enterprise agencies to create jobs and source new investment there.

The following table outlines total new name investment by IDA clients nationally from 2008 to 2017.