IDA JOBS DATA SHOWS 24 INVESTMENTS IN DUNDALK COMPARED TO 9 IN DROGHEDA
7 August 2024
- IDA ‘jobs range’ data shows up to 3,500 IDA-backed jobs in Dundalk compared to a maximum of 950 in Drogheda
Data obtained by Deputy Ged Nash TD lays bare what he described as ‘a stark chasm’ between the number of IDA backed companies and investments in Dundalk, compared to Drogheda.
Key points identified in the information secured by the Labour TD through Parliamentary Questions indicates;
- There is a maximum of 3,500 foreign direct investment jobs based in Dundalk with a maximum of 950 located in Drogheda (IDA provides information based on a ‘employment range’ in steps of 50 (ie 0-50 jobs, 50-100 jobs etc)
- There is currently 24 IDA backed firms in Dundalk, with only 9 in Drogheda.
The Labour TD said; “These figures are stark. We are still fighting for BD which by far represents the largest number of jobs in IDA backed enterprise in Drogheda but if BD does in fact close with 170 people potentially losing good jobs, the picture for Drogheda will get ever more worrying.
“IDA present the employment figures in ranges and frequencies of 50. That means there is in truth fewer than 950 IDA jobs located in Drogheda (and likely to be fewer than 3,500 jobs in Dundalk) but even if we took employment numbers to be at the lower end of the published ranges, the wide variance in jobs numbers between Louth and Ireland’s two biggest towns shows there is still a very stark chasm.
“What cannot be denied is that there are 24 IDA supported investments in Dundalk and only 9 in Drogheda, and the comparisons in terms of jobs numbers is enormous. Of the 9 firms in Drogheda, 6 have jobs numbers below 50. To give some context WuXi Biologics in Dundalk alone provides 550-600 jobs.
“The job IDA has to do for Drogheda is enormous. What is needed is TDs at the top table of government after autumn’s election who know what is needed and who understand how to make the case for Drogheda to ensure balance in terms of investment in County Louth.
“The new IDA units in the Mell area provide an enormous opportunity for Drogheda and to ensure that skilled Drogheda based workers can get out of their cars, and off the trains and buses, and have the opportunity to work in our town.”