Over 10,000 new jobs created by FDI in the first half of the year
GE HealthCare, investing €132m in its Cork facility, and IBM, which is creating 75 jobs in Waterford, were among the 41 companies already based in Ireland that announced expansions. The 52 new arrivals include Sony Interactive Entertainment, which is to hire 100 research and development staff for a Dublin hub.
Commenting on the positive mid-year report, IDA chairman Feargal O'Rourke said they were 'super results in the year that's in it, and while one swallow doesn't make a summer, it's still nice to see a swallow'.
Mr O'Rourke said the IDA was 'cautiously optimistic' for the rest of the year, and noted that companies were remarking on how politically and institutionally stable the country is.
'It's really coming back to us from clients now that, in a very turbulent world, Ireland as an oasis of stability really stands out, and it is really playing to our strengths at the moment,' he said.
Michael Lohan, the IDA chief executive, said there is a good line of sight on a continued flow of investments for the rest of the year, although not quite at the same level as in the first half of 2025.
'I do think we are going to see a softening in terms of the job creation element of that for the second half of the year,' he added, noting that companies are being cautious. While they are willing to invest, they are probably taking a shorter time horizon.
Mr Lohan said that, unlike in the March-April period as the world awaited US president Donald Trump's announcement on tariffs, there is now more certainty within businesses about making decisions. 'Because, remember, at the very core of international companies is international markets. They have to meet their market demand, and they want to look for locations that are proven and stable, and Ireland certainly gives them that.'
Of the 179 investments approved, R&D accounted for about a quarter of the total, and 51pc of them were in regional locations. There was an increase in investments focused on carbon reduction and energy efficiency, with 34 made in the areas of green capital and sustainability.
Other projects included Squarespace, a platform that helps entrepreneurs build brands, announcing over 120 new jobs in Dublin, and the health data company Datavant opening an R&D Centre in Galway that is to employ 125 people.
Astellas, a Japanese pharmaceutical firm, announced a series of investments worth €129m over three years covering its plans in Damastown, Killorglin and Tralee.
In its annual report for 2024, also published today, IDA says its portfolio now comprises more than 1,800 multinational corporations, and that employment last year remained steady, with a net gain of 601 jobs.
The 302,566 people employed by IDA-supported companies represented about 11pc of national employment.
In terms of the origin of those companies, 973 are American, providing 210,741 jobs, while 108 are German, employing 15,015 people. Another 193 are UK companies, with a workforce of 14,373.
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