Decrease in IDA-supported jobs in Westmeath and Roscommon over last decade

During the last ten years there has been an overall decrease in the number of people working in IDA-supported companies in Westmeath and Roscommon. The development agency last week unveiled its annual report for 2008. Among its success stories from last year were investments in Athlone by pharmaceutical companies PPD and Abiomed. When fully established, these two companies are due to create a combined total of 450 new jobs in this area. However, figures for the last ten years show an overall decrease in number of people working in companies which have been supported by the agency in Westmeath and Roscommon. In Westmeath, 2,281 people had permanent jobs in IDA-supported companies in 1999, while 2,144 were in permanent employment in such companies last year. This represents a drop of 6%. In Roscommon, permanent jobs in companies supported by the IDA decreased by 7%, from 947 people permanently employed in 1999 to 881 in 2008. While the IDA helped create 134 new jobs in Westmeath in 2008, 265 jobs were lost during the year in companies which it supported, resulting in a net loss of 131 jobs. In Roscommon, 41 new jobs were created and no jobs were lost in companies the agency supported in 2008. As of last year, there were 21 IDA-supported companies in Westmeath, and seven in Roscommon. Launching the IDA"s national report, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said that, despite economic challenges, the number of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Ireland increased by 14% with a total of 130 new investments in 2008. 'The level and calibre of investments demonstrates clearly that Ireland retains its reputation as a leading location for FDI and this confidence in Ireland by foreign investors has continued through 2009 with a good flow of investments to date and a positive outlook for further investments in the coming months,' concluded the Tánaiste.