Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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302. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA site visits by county in each quarter of 2018; the percentage of visits in each county as a percentage of the number of visits nationally in 2018, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5115/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland hosted 607 site visits in 2018, with over 55% of these visits taking place in regional locations. As I have said before, the IDA always does everything it can - whether through site visits or in direct engagement with potential clients - to encourage overseas firms to locate or expand in regional areas. It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to invest rests solely with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant proportion of all new foreign direct investment (FDI) comes from existing IDA clients already present in the country.

That said, I want to emphasise that creating jobs in the regions remains a top priority for both the IDA and my Department. The energy and resources we have invested into regional growth is, as the evidence illustrates, producing results. In 2018, for example, the IDA delivered 113 regional investments with 56% of net new jobs created outside Dublin. The last four years have seen 44,500 new FDI jobs created outside the capital. We will continue to do our utmost to encourage further such job growth across all parts of Ireland in the time ahead.

The table below outlines the number of IDA site visits by county in each quarter of 2018 and the percentage of visits in each county as a percentage of the number of visits nationally.