Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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82. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the targeted number of new IDA-supported jobs to be delivered in County Monaghan in 2023. [22038/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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2022 was a record-breaking year for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) employment, with total employment in IDA client companies now standing at 301,475 up over 26,000 on 2021. Growth in the regions was particularly buoyant, with 52% or 127 projects of the 242 investments won by IDA going to regional locations. Employment growth was recorded in every region of the country.

The FDI performance in the Border region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 21% 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.

Monaghan is marketed by the IDA as part of the wider Border Region, made up of the counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Cavan, as well as Monaghan. There are 73 IDA companies in this region who collectively directly employ 8,885 people. There are currently 8 IDA supported companies in Monaghan, employing 428 people.

The IDA does not set individual county job targets in any given year, rather they set regional targets. In that regard, the IDA is targeting 25 investments for the Border region in the period 2021 to 2024. The IDA will build on the strengths and competencies of the region with a focus on opportunities arising in the sectors of Life Sciences, Technology and Services and take advantage of emerging technologies and business models, including home and hub working.

As the Deputy will be aware, IDA Ireland has recently completed the construction of an Advance Building Solution in Monaghan which it is currently actively marketing to potential FDI clients. Key to success in this respect is strategic collaboration with national and local stakeholders on the enhancement of the regional value proposition for FDI. In this regard, IDA Ireland welcomes the significant funding that both Cavan and Monaghan have received under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) to date which will further enhance the attractiveness of both counties for FDI.

Finally, the existing FDI base of companies in Monaghan enjoys strong collaborative links with several third level colleges including Dundalk Institute of Technology as well as the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), which is a further positive dynamic for attracting FDI projects to the Region and County.