Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits that were taken by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland clients to each of the local electoral areas (LEAs) in Wexford; the number of jobs that were created by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland in each of the LEAs in the counties; the value of the investments made by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland client companies in each of the LEAs in the counties in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43652/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Regional development is a key element of Government's enterprise policy, as set out in the White Paper on Enterprise, and is a key focus of the work of my Department and our Agencies. In this regard, the availability of property and infrastructure solutions is a key factor in investment decisions and a robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be the key differentiator in winning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects.

IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme is aimed at supporting economic development and job creation across the country by providing property solutions for its own as well as Enterprise Ireland and LEO clients, and IDA Ireland facilitates both virtual and in-person sites visits for companies. Data on the number of site visits is provided on a county level and figures from 2019 to 2023 for site visits to County Wexford are set in the table that follows. In addition, there was one site visit to Wexford to Q2 this year. In interpreting the figures, it should be noted that potential clients may visit more than one county and may return to a location more than once and the figures being provided represent individual visits and therefore, may not be indicative of the number of companies that have visited.

IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland client companies created 3,119 jobs in County Wexford over the past five years and the breakdown of annual job creation in the County is outlined in the table below:

Grant Payments to both IDA and EI clients in County Wexford over the last 5 years are shown below:

There was an additional €928,270 paid by EI towards infrastructural clients in County Wexford, comprised of €899,389 in 2023 and €28,881 during 2022.

I should note that grants paid in a particular year are not necessarily linked to either the investments won, or the jobs created in that 12-month period. Grants are generally drawn down over the lifetime of a project which is typically over a period of three to five years. Equally, some investments which result in job creation may not be grant aided and some well-established firms may no longer be receiving grant payments.

Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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149. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the companies in Wexford that have benefitted from grants from Enterprise Ireland in the past five years, in tabular form; the results of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43653/24]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Regional development is a key element of Government's enterprise policy, as set out in the White Paper on Enterprise and a particular area of focus in the work of my Department and that of its enterprise agencies.

The latest employment survey results from Enterprise Ireland present a positive outlook for the Irish economy, particularly in the sectors under its remit. According to the Annual Employment Survey 2023, there has been a notable increase in employment levels across industrial and service companies. This growth is not just confined to the capital city but is spread across the country, with 68% of the new jobs being created outside of Dublin.

Furthermore, the survey provides a decade-long perspective on employment trends, offering valuable insights into the evolution of Ireland's industrial and services landscape. Over the seven-year period from 2017 to 2023, there has been a consistent upward trajectory in employment figures for companies supported by Enterprise Ireland in County Wexford, reflecting the success of policies aimed at fostering enterprise and innovation. The strategic focus on diversifying Ireland's economic base and promoting exports has also contributed to this positive trend.

The Annual Employment Surveys indicate that Wexford's economy is on a solid growth path, with Enterprise Ireland playing a pivotal role in supporting businesses and job creation.

In the five years from 2019 to 2023 there were 121 beneficiaries of Enterprise Ireland financial support in County Wexford.

The 121 beneficiaries in County Wexford were the following –