Written answers

Tuesday, 4 November 2025

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Industrial Development

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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598. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits by the IDA in 2024/2025 to date, on a county-by-county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58524/25]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter 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 Programme for Government and the White Paper on Enterprise, and is a key focus of the work of my Department and our Enterprise Development agencies. In this regard, IDA Ireland is continuing its strong commitment to regional development as one of four key strategic objectives of its 2025–2029 strategy, "Adapt Intelligently". This ambitious strategy aims to secure 550 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects outside Dublin, accounting for 55% of all planned investments (1,000) over that period.

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 in the regions from both new and existing clients as well as clients of Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs.

As requested, the number of sites visits by county is summarised below, and I am advised that the latest data available for 2025 is to end Q2 and that Q3 data will be available in early November.



County
2024 To end Q2 2025
Carlow 6 2
Cavan 4 2
Clare 21 10
Cork 41 27
Donegal 2 1
Dublin 221 141
Galway 34 19
Kerry 6 1
Kildare 5 1
Kilkenny 8 3
Laois 2 3
Leitrim 1 2
Limerick 38 16
Longford 2 2
Louth 7 6
Mayo 1 1
Meath 1 1
Monaghan 1 1
Offaly 5 2
Roscommon 7 3
Sligo 8 2
Tipperary 2 2
Waterford 18 8
Westmeath 18 11
Wexford 6 3
Wicklow 1 0
Total 466 270
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. Additionally, 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 remind the Deputy 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.

Photo of Naoise Ó CearúilNaoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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599. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA-supported site visits to County Kildare from 2022 to date in 2025, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58698/25]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter 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 Programme for Government and the White Paper on Enterprise, and is a key focus of the work of my Department and our Enterprise Development agencies. In this regard, IDA Ireland is continuing its strong commitment to regional development as one of four key strategic objectives of its 2025–2029 strategy, "Adapt Intelligently". This ambitious strategy aims to secure 550 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects outside Dublin, accounting for 55% of all planned investments of 1,000 over the lifetime of the strategy. IDA Ireland has targeted 55 investments for the Mid-East region over the period 2025-2029.

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 in the regions from both new and existing clients as well as clients of Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs.

The Mid-East Region comprises counties Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow. There are 121 IDA client companies in this Region, employing 20,470 people, of which 45 are in County Kildare employing 10,617. The FDI performance in the Mid East region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 10%.

In relation to site visits, as requested, the number of IDA facilitated site visits to County Kildare is set out in the table below. I am advised that the latest data available is to end Q2 and that Q3 data will be available in early November.

Site Visits To end Q2 2025* 2024 2023 2022
Kildare 1 5 4 6
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 remind the Deputy 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.

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