Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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79. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA backed companies that are currently located within each county; the number of IDA backed companies located in each county in the past five years, respectively; the number of site visits that were conducted by the IDA in each county in the past five years, respectively; the amount of funding that was expended by the IDA in each county in the past five years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30072/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy has asked for the number of IDA client companies located in each county over the past 5 years, details of which are set out below:

The Deputy has also asked for the number of site visits conducted by the IDA in each county in the past five years: 

*In response to COVID 19, IDA Ireland migrated many of its business development and client engagement activities to digital platforms. The use of digital platforms by IDA staff has contributed to an enhanced digital engagement with existing clients and also in hosting E-Site visits with potential new investors.2020 figures are consequently a combination of ‘in person’ visits and ‘E-visits’. details of which are set out below:

- TThe table below sets out the details of the amount of funding expended by the IDA in each county in each of the past 5 years, as requested by the Deputy. Note that payments shown in the table relate to grants paid.  There are several reasons why certain counties might have registered a small or zero figure in any given year. The grant may be paid in a different year than approved. Grants are for specific projects and the life time of these is generally 3-5 years, so although a small or zero figure is shown it does not necessarily mean there was no activity. And finally the number of FDI companies in a particular county will affect the number/amounts of grants paid in that county.

*Includes NIBRT (National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training) payments to the value of €62,966,581.

IDA Ireland launched their new Strategy  Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth in January last.  The strategy will be delivered through a focus on five pillars: Growth, Transformation, Regions, Sustainability and Impact. These interlinked pillars align with and are guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. At a national level they reflect the approach and ambition of the Programme for Government.

Regional development is at the very heart of the Agency’s strategy in that it contains a commitment to more balanced, compact regional development which can help to advance national development.

The IDA has a target of 400 investments - half of all new investments – in regional locations. The strategy will drive recovery and support development in each region, partner with clients to facilitate innovation and upskilling, develop clusters, work with clients to enable remote working opportunities and continue the role out of the Agency’s regional property programme.