Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2024
283. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA site visits to County Louth in 2022, 2023 and 2024; the number of such client visits made to Drogheda, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29448/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegional 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. In that regard, IDA Ireland is committed to the pursuit of balanced, compact regional development and is targeting at least half of all investments - that is 400 of 800 - from 2021 to 2024 to regional locations.
Further, the IDA’s Regional Property Programme ensures the continued supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients of IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, as the timely provision of appropriate, cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions to meet the needs of Multinational Companies (MNCs) remains essential to winning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). To these ends, the IDA also partners with the private sector and Local Authorities to deliver buildings in key locations and is investing in significant infrastructure projects across the portfolio of Business and Technology Parks responding to evolving company needs. The agency also maintains a focus on land banks and strategic sites to future proof the ability of the property portfolio in regional locations to support the project pipeline.
Statistics on site visits are available on a county basis only and, in this regard, the number of site visits to County Louth in 2022 was 16; in 2023 was 11; and for Q1 2024 there have been 2 visits. Figures for Q2 are being collated and verified and will be available next month. These site visit figures reflect both in-person and e-visits. I am also advised, that potential clients visiting Ireland may visit more than one county and may return to a location more than once. Thus the foregoing figures represent individual visits and are, therefore, not indicative of the number of companies that have visited.
