Kerry lags behind for IDA site visits

KERRY is still lagging well behind neighbouring counties when it comes to IDA led visits from potential international investors.

The most recent figures published by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Frances Fitzgerald – on foot of a Dáil query from Limerick Fianna Fáil deputy Niall Collins – show both Cork and Limerick have enjoyed considerably more attention from potential investors .

Accroding to the figures provided by Minister Fitzgerald there have been just 11 potential foreign investors were brought to Kerry by the IDA between January 2015 and the end of June this year.

Two visits were made in the first six months of 2017; three were made last year and in 2015 six companies were brought to visit sites in the county.

By comparison, since the start of 2015, a total of 118 companies have been brought to Cork while 106 have visited Limerick.

This year alone there were 21 visits to Cork and 17 to limerick.

For her part Minister Fitzgerald was at pains to stress that the IDA is committed to bring investment to all regions.

“I want to emphasise that the IDA remains committed to increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in every region of Ireland by 30 to 40 per cent by the end of the Agency’s current strategy in 2019,” Minister Fitzgerald told Deputy Collins.

“The IDA continues, with that goal in mind, to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in the regions to its client base and it makes every effort to ensure that FDI is spread as widely as possible across the country. The final decision as to where to invest, however, always rests with the company concerned,” she said in conclusion.

Picture Conor McCabe Photography. Anne O Sullivan and Caroline Browne of Keanes SuperValu in Killorglin with Ruth Wanesborough from EIQA at the National Q Mark Awards. Known as The Oscars of Business Excellence, The Q Mark Award is the highest accolade an Irish business can achieve,...