2026-01-13

114. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of jobs IDA Ireland supported in each county in the midlands region in 2025; the way in which this compares with the position in each county in the midlands region in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1592/26]

Will the Minister comment on the number of IDA Ireland jobs in County Laois? The most recent figures I received show 145 IDA Ireland-supported jobs in County Laois. In the midland region, which includes four counties, there are over 8,000. Laois has 30% of the population of the midlands region and less than 2% of IDA Ireland jobs.

I thank Deputy Fleming for his very important question on the midlands. Regional development is a key focus of our programme for Government and is central to the work the Department and our enterprise agencies. The region, comprising counties Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, is home to 51 IDA Ireland companies that employ 7,501 people. Foreign direct investment performance has been consistent over the six years requested by the Deputy, 2020 to 2025, with IDA Ireland-supported jobs increasing by 1,027, or 16%, over this period. Employment in Westmeath, Longford and Offaly increased by 626, 336 and 67 respectively, while employment in Laois decreased by two. In 2020, there were 158 IDA Ireland-supported jobs in Laois. This decreased to 156 in 2025. In Longford, the employment figures went from 1,236 in 2020 to 1,572 in 2025, an increase of 336. In Offaly, the 2020 employment figure was 1,232. This increased by 67 to 1,299 in 2025. In Westmeath, the number of IDA Ireland-supported jobs increased by 626 over the period, going from 3,848 to 4,474. Over the period of its previous strategy, 2021 to 2024, IDA Ireland supported the delivery of 973 investments and the creation of 76,790 jobs. Some 54% of those investments were won in regional locations. In the midlands, 31 investments were won against a target of 25. Under its current strategy, IDA Ireland is targeting 550 of a total 1,000 investments to regional locations, including 40 in the midlands. 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 jobs in the coming years.

I thank the Minister for that information. It has confirmed the issue I raised. I want to highlight the following situation. There are 52 IDA-supported jobs per 1,000 people in Westmeath. The figure in Longford is 35 per 1,000 and in Offaly 16 per 1,000. The figure for County Laois is two per 1,000. The IDA does not exist in Laois; I wonder does Laois exist in the minds of the IDA. It has a big regional office in Westmeath, and more power to it, but because that office is in Westmeath, people who come to the midlands are shown Westmeath first. We might be an extra 40 minutes down the road but it is well worth a visit. There is something strategically wrong with the IDA when it can have only two jobs per 1,000 people. The figure for Enterprise Ireland is not much better; it has about 2,000 jobs in the county, which is the third lowest in the whole country. I am asking for a positive response and for the Minister to ask the IDA to do more for County Laois because it has not done much to date.

I acknowledge the concern raised by Deputy Fleming in connection with Laois. I was on the ground there with Deputies Fleming and Aird recently and looked at where we have an advanced planning permit in Portlaoise and lands surrounding it, as well as being there on the occasion when Midland Steel announced 70 jobs, which are very important for the area. We have seen 11% growth in Enterprise Ireland from 2020 to 2024, which equals about 260 jobs supported by the agency. We have to do better and I fully acknowledge that. We drive regional growth as best we can and I have asked the IDA to up its targets for regional areas. I will do all I can, working with Deputies Fleming and Aird, to bring additional investment into Laois. Critically, the Leprino Foods site is another high-quality, high-spec building and we really need to find a replacement employer. It is one we are marketing aggressively as part of the IDA portfolio.

I appreciate the comment on Leprino, which closed in Portlaoise and was originally Glanbia, an Enterprise Ireland project. Because it was sold to an American company, it now comes under the remit of the IDA. That it just a book transfer but we need to get a facility reopened in that location as quickly as possible. I ask that when the Minister is arranging the visits for Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, Laois be put high on the list. IDA has a 45-acre facility in Portlaoise and planning permission was granted on that in 2024 to lay roads, paths and lighting to facilitate development. We want to see follow-through from the IDA. It is totally out of kilter with the rest of the country. How can the IDA only have two jobs per 1,000 people in County Laois? It is off the scale completely, compared with other counties. There is an injustice happening to County Laois and I want the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to change that.

I take on board Deputy Fleming's comments. I will work with the IDA on attracting foreign direct investment into the region. We have increased our regional target, which is very important, to get as many jobs as we can. We are working through our capital programme, in which we have about €500 million for regional buildings, to put the infrastructure in place around them and ensure they are in the best position to attract investment. Visitor numbers are up in the midlands but I will add a note of caution. We are operating in an uncertain political environment. We know the pressures on the global stage regarding attracting investment, which will be acute in 2026. Notwithstanding that, with our indigenous agencies, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, we will do our best to reflect the Deputy's concerns and will try to do better in 2026.

I understand Deputy McGreehan is taking the next question on behalf of Deputy Dempsey.