Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

48. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA visits with potential employers to each county in the years 2021 and 2022. [1792/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 during 2020. Since the ending of public health restrictions, in person site visits have resumed.

The figures below includes both in person and E-Site visits per county. I understand from IDA that Q4 figures for 2022 will be available in February.