Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
172. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of jobs IDA Ireland expects to attract in 2026; the number of jobs attracted in each of the preceding five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45588/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraForeign Direct Investment is a key element of our economic strategy, with investments by IDA Ireland client companies consistently generating highly skilled jobs nationwide. In 2025, 1,880 IDA client companies were directly employing more than 312,000 people in Ireland, the fourth consecutive year numbers employed by IDA client-companies was over 300,000, reflecting a mature, stable, resilient FDI sector. Ireland’s success in attracting and retaining FDI has had a range of direct and indirect impacts. An estimated 8 jobs are supported in the wider economy for every 10 jobs created by IDA clients.
Central to IDA Ireland's current strategy, ‘Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29' is an emphasis on partnering with existing clients increase the competitiveness of their Irish operations and safeguard and strengthen long-term investment in Ireland through investment in research, development & innovation digitalisation, talent development and sustainability. The strategy also aims to attract new investment in the key future-orientated sectors of digitalisation and AI, semiconductors, health, and sustainability.
During the lifetime of this strategy, IDA Ireland is aiming to secure 1,000 investments, create 75,000 jobs and upskill 40,000 people. The first year of this strategy, 2025, saw IDA Ireland achieving the highest ever number of investments, 323, a 38% increase on 2024, which are expected to create over 15,300 new jobs, a 14% uplift on the previous year.
Between 2021-2025 IDA clients committed to a job creation of over 92,000 jobs within projects approved in the same period as outlined in the table below. IDA Ireland will announce its mid-year 2026 results in early July.
|
Year |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Job approvals, IDA Ireland Clients |
20,407 |
23,912 |
18,976 |
13,495 |
15,319 |
IDA continues to promote Ireland as a world leader in FDI opportunities and supports. The strategy places strong emphasis on innovation, talent development, and sustainability to ensure that businesses in Ireland remain competitive and future focused. Balanced regional development also remains a key priority, ensuring that the benefits of FDI are shared widely across the country. IDA Ireland will continue to work closely with stakeholders and clients to ensure the creation of high-quality jobs and to support a balanced and sustainable distribution of economic benefits across all regions of the country.
Finally, I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is fully aware of the competitiveness challenge the country faces as it competes for foreign direct investment. We are taking the necessary steps to position Ireland for the future, and we will continue to place costs, planning, energy, infrastructure and RD&I at the centre of our forward-looking policy making, all reflected in policy commitments in the new Programme for Government, the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity and NDP priorities.
