Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to Donegal the IDA made over the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22544/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Regional development is a key element of Government's enterprise policy, and the work of my Department and is a strategic imperative for IDA Ireland. IDA, under its new strategy 2025-2029, is targeting 550 of a total target of 1,000 investments to regional locations.

The availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and can be the key differentiator in investment decisions from both new and existing IDA clients as well as clients of Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs.

IDA has land holdings of c 0.9 hectares in Lurganboy Industrial Estate in Donegal Town, c18 hectares in the IDA Letterkenny Business Park, Lissenan, and c 1.3 hectares in Knocknamona Industrial Estate that are available for marketing.

Construction commenced on an Advance Building Solution in the IDA Business & Technology Park, Letterkenny, in October 2024, under IDA’s Regional Property Programme and completion is expected in Q4, this year. IDA is also partnering with Letterkenny Co Council to deliver an Advance Planning Permit in Letterkenny as part of its new Strategy.

I am advised that there were two visits to County Donegal in 2024. I should indicate, however, 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 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. Potential clients visiting Ireland may visit more than one county and may return to a location more than once. Also, the figures represent individual visits and are not necessarily indicative of the number of companies that have visited. I would also recall that the final decision on where to locate an investment is always made by the client, and not by IDA, and it 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 employment. I would also add that there are 21 IDA client companies in Donegal employing 5,196 people. The wider Border Region, comprising counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan has 72 IDA client companies employing 10,389 people. The FDI performance in the region has been positive over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 12%. The Border has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Life Sciences, Engineering, International Financial Services, Content, Consumer & Business Services and Technology. The region has fostered strong collaboration, for example through Atlantic Technological University Sligo’s participation in NIBRT, the development of the BORMAC (Border Region Manufacturing Cluster) and Atlantic Technological University Donegal’s engagement with client companies on the formation of a North West chapter of Cyber Ireland.