Local IDA site visits down in last 10 years

The number of IDA facilitated site visits to Westmeath has reduced significantly in the last 10 years. Statistics released in reply to a parliamentary question indicated that the visits in 2025 were just over half what they were nine years ago.

In 2016 the Irish government’s state-sponsored agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country enabled 36 visits to the county, and the following year accommodated 42 site viewings, but last year there were just 19 companies brought to the county to view sites.

Westmeath still ranks high on the list of prioritised places, only six counties had more visits last year. Dublin (247), Cork (60), Galway (41), Limerick (33) and Waterford (20) rank higher for last year; Clare had 19 visits.

The figures were recently discussed in the Dáil when Sinn Féin Deputy David Cullinane asked Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, the number of international IDA visits to regions over the last 10 years.

In his reply Minister Burke said: “The availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and can be the key differentiator in investment decisions in the regions from both new and existing clients.

“In this regard, IDA facilitates sites visits for potential investors and IDA Ireland continues to collaborate closely with national and local stakeholders to foster the conditions necessary for enterprise, innovation, and job creation in the regions.”

Even in years of falling visit numbers, Dublin has continued to attract the vast majority of IDA site visits. The 2016 figure of 284 was from a total of 638 visits, while the 2025 number of 247 was from an overall number of 514. Between 2021 and 2024, 46% of all IDA Ireland investments were in Dublin.

Westmeath has enjoyed a significant increase in the number of IDA supported jobs over the last decade. There was a small fall off between 2024 and 2025, but the figures have climbed from 2,769 in 2015 to 4,474 last year.

The 2025 number is a drop of 78 employees from the 2024 high of 4,552, but up to that there had been a steady increase over the previous nine years.

Last year there were 142,501 IDA supported jobs in Dublin, up from the 2015 figure of 79,221.