Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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431. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA site visits to County Wexford made in the past 18 months; the specific locations of these visits; the results to date of any such visits, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1138/25]

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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432. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA site visits to County Wicklow made in the past 18 months, in tabular form; the specific locations of these visits; the results to date of any such visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1139/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 together.

There were 2 site visits to County Wexford in 2023 and 6 until the end of Q3 2024. There were 2 site visits to County Wicklow in 2023, and no visits to the end of Q3 2024 which is the latest data available. Reporting on IDA site visits is available on a county basis only.

I should add that site visits are only one measure of a company’s interest in a particular location and may not necessarily be a true measure of the overall level of foreign direct investment (FDI) activity in a region or county. For example, 70% of FDI won by IDA Ireland in 2024 came from its existing client base, rather than new companies. Also, potential clients visiting Ireland may visit more than one county and may return to a location more than once. The figures given, therefore, represent individual visits and are not indicative of the number of companies that have visited.

Currently, there are 85 IDA client companies in the South-East Region comprising counties Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford, employing 15,580 people directly and supporting many more jobs indirectly. The South-East has a strong ecosystem of IDA clients across the Life Sciences, International Financial Services, Technology, and Engineering sectors. In County Wexford there are 25 companies, employing 3,606 people directly.

There are 121 IDA client companies in the Mid-East Region comprising counties Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, employing 20,470 people directly and supporting many more jobs indirectly. The Mid-East also has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services and Engineering & Industrial Technologies. There has also been significant investment in the Food and the Film sub-sectors. Counties in the Mid-East also benefit hugely from the direct and indirect employment generated by IDA client companies located in Dublin. In County Wicklow itself there are 22 companies, employing 2,695 people directly.

It should be noted that the final decision on where to locate an investment is always decided by the client, and not by IDA Ireland, and can take many years to convert from initial site visit to final project proposal. Regular engagement and collaboration with stakeholders are important in positioning any regional location to attract FDI and, in this respect, IDA Ireland continues to engage with stakeholders as well as working with existing clients in all regional locations to generate additional jobs.

The competition for FDI in the IDA's "key sectors", continues to intensify as countries increase their focus on self-sufficiency and economic security. However, Ireland’s value proposition for inward investment remains strong, based on offering a safe and stable investment location with access to the EU market, an educated and skilled workforce, an attractive environment where people want to live and work, a competitive, consistent and transparent corporate tax regime and an excellent return on investment.