Ireland’s generous corporate tax environment was the single biggest factor for multinationals in business here even as nearly three-quarters of companies struggled to find skilled staff.
A client survey by the IDA found the four biggest advantages for companies were corporation tax, the third-level education system, water supply and the flexibility of the workforce.
However, the housing crisis is proving a challenge with availability and costs listed as the most negative factors for doing business in Ireland.
Housing cost and availability were highlighted as two of four ‘red’ issues for firms along with the perceived high levels of personal tax and the planning process.
There were five factors ranked ‘pink’ in the IDA survey where satisfaction ratings were below 50 percent by companies.
These related to the cost and availability of commercial property, transport infrastructure, support in managing environmental impact, along with gas and power supply costs.
A review of the client survey said there were clear “decreases in satisfaction evident for energy costs and housing.”
However, it said firms remained uniform that the corporate tax environment was the single most attractive part of doing business here.
The summary added: “While strong overall satisfaction levels are again evident with the Irish education system, only 16 percent of clients are very satisfied that the system is producing graduates with the skill sets that their business in Ireland requires.”
It said the number of clients reporting difficulties in hiring talent was the highest it had ever been since their surveys began.
A summary said: “76 percent [of companies] report difficulties sourcing skills for their company in Ireland with engineering being the key area of difficulty.”
The 2022 client survey had been withheld by the IDA for close to a year and a half and was only released following an appeal under FOI laws to the Information Commissioner.
Asked about that delay and the findings in the research, a spokesman said they had no further comment to make.