Multi-national interest on the rise for Galway
Multi-national companies’ interest in Galway is on the rise again – with the total number of visits in the first half of this year already outstripping all of 2013.
That’s according to local Senator Lorraine Higgins who was told by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD there were 16 multinational visits to Galway in the first half of 2015 – already one more than the low of 15 visits in 2013.
“I asked the Minister to indicate the number of visits made by potential multi-national investors with the IDA to County Galway; and if he would make a statement on the matter given the drop in visits in recent years from 35 in 2011 to 18 in 2012 and 15 in 2013,” said the Athenry Senator.
The Minister confirmed 16 site visits by potential multi-national investors to Co. Galway to the middle of 2015.
“This figure over a six month period represents an increase in visits from the figure in 2013 and this is extremely heartening,” she said.
The Minister was also quick to point out the IDA’s commitment to actively marketing Galway across its global offices.
“In particular, there are two sites in Tuam that IDA Ireland markets. The first is the Tuam Business Park, which is a 13.48ha site. The second is the 10.73ha Tuam Business & Technology Park.
“Tenants include companies such as Valeo Vision Systems, Transitions Optical, Logstrup and SSL Logistics,” he said.
And the new IDA Ireland strategy for the next five years includes a €150m property investment plan, spread out over five years.
“The funding will be used to upgrade Ireland's business and technology parks, as well as investing in a number of strategic utility-intensive sites and building new advanced technology buildings in a number of regional locations,” added Minister Bruton.
Senator Higgins welcomed the news.
“While competition for FDI is very intense, it is important that we do not take our eye off the ball when it comes to inward investment. The impact in terms of helping our economic recovery spread across the west of our country and instilling confidence in a community can be best seen with the news of Apple locating a new data centre in my hometown of Athenry.
“Therefore, it is imperative that the IDA remain committed be providing more job opportunities for young people in Galway instead of forcing them to move to Dublin or further afield in order to secure a job,” she added.