Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA supported companies based in County Monaghan; the year that each was established in County Monaghan; the number of employees employed in each in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4369/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland recorded its highest increase in FDI employment in a single year in 2021. 53% - 133 of the 249 of investments won went to regional locations – with employment growth in every region of the country

The Border Region consists of the counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, and Monaghan. IDA Ireland supports 67 client companies in this region who collectively directly employ 8,721 people. In Monaghan, IDA Ireland supports 8 client companies who employ 430 people in total.

The FDI performance in the region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 18% as traditional strengths in sectors such as Engineering & Industrial Technologies and Medical Technologies were complemented by new investments from the Technology, International Financial Services and Life Sciences sectors.

The following is a table of companies located in Monaghan and year of establishment. It is not possible to provide individual employment data for each company as this information is confidential to each company.

In its new strategy, IDA Ireland will build on the strengths and competencies of the Border region. Additionally, IDA Ireland has recently completed the construction of an Advance Building Solution in Monaghan which the agency is actively marketing to potential FDI clients. In addition, and as part of its new strategy “Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021 to 2024”, IDA Ireland plans to deliver Advance Building Solutions in Letterkenny, Cavan, and Sligo over the strategy period of 2021-2024.

IDA will target 25 investments for the Border region in the period 2021 to 2024 and will continue to actively promote Monaghan as part of the wider Border Region value proposition.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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191. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA site visits in each county in each of the years 2012 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4372/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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 FDI companies that have already invested and located here.  When it comes to foreign direct investment, site visits represent a valuable tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas. However, site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant percentage of all new FDI comes from existing IDA client companies. 

In response to COVID, IDA migrated many of its business development and client engagement activities to digital platforms. IDA Ireland has developed a suite of digital content which can be accessed by potential investors.  The Agency has developed this further and has put in place an E-Site Visit experience for potential investors.  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.

Regional development is at the centre of IDA’s new strategy, Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024. IDA 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. 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.

The IDA recorded its highest increase in FDI employment in a single year in 2021. 53% - 133 of the 249 of investments won went to regional locations – with employment growth in every region of the country.

The table below details the number of IDA in person site visits per county in the years 2012 through to 2019, and both in person and e-Site visits for 2020 and 2021;

** includes both in person and E-Site visits per county