Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA site visits by county in each quarter of 2019 to date; the percentage of visits in each county as a percentage of the number of visits nationally in 2019, by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29001/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland hosted 159 site visits as of the first quarter of 2019, with almost 65% of these visits taking place in regional locations. Information on site visits for the second quarter of 2019 will be made available by mid-July.

Whilst site visits are an important tool in helping showcase regional locations to investors, it is important to remember - as I have made clear before - 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 comes from existing IDA clients already present in the country.

More broadly, creating more jobs in the regions will remain a top priority for both the IDA and my Department as we seek to build on the progress made over the last number of years. In 2018, for example, the IDA delivered 113 regional investments with 56% of net new jobs created outside Dublin. The Agency's mid-year results for 2019 have also reflected a number of significant investments for regional locations. Since the IDA’s current five-year strategy was launched in 2015 there have been 455 investments secured for the regions. This is a testament to the focus IDA Ireland has placed on regional development and the whole of government action to enhance our regional offering.

The following table details the number of IDA site visits to each county in quarter 1 of 2019 and the percentage of visits in each county as a percentage of the number of visits nationally.