Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA site visits in 2020 and to date in 2021 in counties Clare, Limerick, Cork and Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21243/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Regional development is at the centre of IDA’s new strategy, Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024. IDA Ireland is committed to the pursuit of more balanced, compact regional development which can deliver complementary efficiency and equity gains, with the overall impact of helping to advance national development. The IDA will target half of all investments (400) from 2021- 2024 to regional locations and maintain the same high level of investment as targeted in IDA’s previous strategy for each region of the country.

Cork and Kerry make up the South West Region and has 211 client companies which collectively employ 46,009 people, while Clare and Limerick (along with Tipperary) are included in the Mid-West Region with 131 client companies employing 19,989 people.

The primary responsibility of the IDA is to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Ireland and to retain, transform and expand the existing base of client companies that have already invested and located here.

When it comes to FDI site visits represent a valuable tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas.  Site visit activity, however, does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant percentage of all new FDI comes from existing IDA client companies. 

2020 presented undeniable challenges to ongoing efforts to sustain and grow FDI in Ireland. The introduction of travel restrictions around the world disrupted the usual way the IDA engaged with investors, resulting in fewer numbers of site visits and client meetings. The pandemic also impacted investor confidence and has likely caused some investment decisions to be delayed or postponed.

In response to this, IDA Ireland migrated many of its business development and client engagement activities onto digital platforms and established a suite of digital content which can be accessed by potential investors.  The use of these digital platforms has contributed to an enhanced digital engagement with existing clients, and in hosting E-Site visits with potential new investors. 

The number of site visits, including E-visits, to end 2020 was: Limerick 26; Clare 16; Cork 30 and Kerry 1. Verified figures for end Q1 2021 are expected before the end of the month.  It should also be noted that potential clients visiting Ireland may visit more than one county and may return to a location more than once. These figures represent individual visits and are therefore not indicative of the number of companies that have visited.

As part of the IDA’s Strategy Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021-24, IDA have set out proposed office solutions for regional locations, which will enable the IDA to attract further FDI to these locations. For example, in the South-West region IDA will deliver an Advanced Building Solution in Tralee over the life of the Strategy, while continuing to work closely with the private sector in the South-West to secure the provision of appropriate and cost-effective building and property solutions for client companies.  Additional upgrade works, and investment are planned for IDA Parks in the region to ensure a robust value proposition for clients, and IDA plans to acquire additional strategic sites for future development. IDA will target 118 investments for the South-West region in the period 2021-2024.

The final decision on where to locate an investment is always decided by the client and not by IDA Ireland.   Regular engagement and collaboration with stakeholders are important in positioning any regional location to attract FDI and in this respect IDA Ireland continues to engage with stakeholders as well as working with existing clients in all regional locations to sustain and generate additional jobs.

The Deputy will also be aware that Terms of Reference for the Shannon Estuary Taskforce, encompassing parts of north Kerry and other areas mentioned in his question, are being finalised and I hope to make an announcement in that regard shortly