Cavan one of five counties nationally with zero IDA visits in Quarter 1 of 2017 while Monaghan receives just one visit
Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Niamh Smyth has received the latest figures from the IDA which show that there have been no visits by the IDA to County Cavan in 1st Quarter of this year.
Commenting Deputy Niamh Smyth said, “I have raised this directly with the Minister for Jobs Mary Mitchell O’Connor on the floor of the Dáil earlier this year. I am disappointed to see that following another Parliamentary Question, I have been informed by the Minister that Cavan was one of five counties who received no visits by the IDA in Quarter 1 of this year. Monaghan received just one visit by the IDA. This is in comparison to 82 visits in Dublin, 23 in Galway, 10 in Limerick and Clare respectively and 9 in Westmeath. “
“The IDA’s record in both counties has been abysmal in the past and nothing has changed on this front. We had a total of two visits to each county last year. The border region is being overlooked by state agencies. Projects that have thrived in both counties have been indigenous industries that had an interest in both Cavan and Monaghan. Based on the figures released, it would appear the IDA is failing to promote Cavan and Monaghan where employment and new business is so badly needed.”
Deputy Smyth continued, “In their defence the Minister for Jobs and the IDA continue to site figures and companies which have been in place for a number of years. We need new investment and new employment. With the N2 and M3 roads we are very accessible to Dublin. I will continue to raise this matter in the Dáil calling for investment and job creation in Cavan and Monaghan. The IDA’s record is deplorable in both counties.”
My Parliamentary Question on this issue (see below)
QUESTION NO: 656
DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor)
by Deputy Niamh Smyth
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 09/05/2017
To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation the status of IDA visits for 2017 nationwide, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY.
IDA Ireland maintains statistics of site visits by potential investors on a quarterly basis only. In the first quarter of 2017, there were 173 site visits, up from 136 for the same period in 2016. The table below sets out, on a county-by-county basis, the number of IDA Ireland-sponsored site visits for 2016 and for quarter one of 2017.
Site Visits by County, 2016 and Quarter 1 2017
| County | 2016 | Q1 2017 |
| Carlow | 9 | 3 |
| Cavan | 2 | 0 |
| Clare | 18 | 10 |
| Cork | 49 | 9 |
| Donegal | 7 | 1 |
| Dublin | 284 | 82 |
| Galway | 42 | 23 |
| Kerry | 3 | 1 |
| Kildare | 8 | 2 |
| Kilkenny | 10 | 2 |
| Laois | 6 | 0 |
| Leitrim | 8 | 1 |
| Limerick | 49 | 10 |
| Longford | 6 | 0 |
| Louth | 24 | 5 |
| Mayo | 5 | 0 |
| Meath | 8 | 0 |
| Monaghan | 2 | 1 |
| Offaly | 4 | 1 |
| Roscommon | 1 | 1 |
| Sligo | 20 | 2 |
| Tipperary | 8 | 5 |
| Waterford | 17 | 3 |
| Westmeath | 36 | 9 |
| Wexford | 7 | 1 |
| Wicklow | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 638 | 173 |