The number of investments into Ireland by foreign multinationals and associated jobs won fell during the first half of the year, compared to the same period last year.
According to IDA Ireland, 139 investments were made between January and the end of June, down from 155 over the same six months in 2022.
The associated job creation potential flowing from those investments is 12,072 the IDA said, compared to over 18,000 potential roles over the same six month period of last year.
This represented a return to pre-pandemic levels, when new jobs averaged around 12,000 in the first six months of each of 2017, 2018 and 2019.
There were 52 new name investments made during the first half of the year and 67 were approved for regional locations.
The IDA does not publish the number of jobs lost at multinationals at the mid-point of the year as it only collates that data at year end.
As a result, the figures do not take account of job cuts at foreign technology multinational companies here over the last six months.
Despite the dip in investments and potential new jobs, the IDA described the level of investment as strong and "in line with expectations".
It said the performance was healthy against the backdrop of a fragile global economy, with foreign direct investment into Europe flat.
"It actually mirrors our performance for the last probably five or six years in terms of job creation and investment numbers," said CEO, Michael Lohan.
"So against the backdrop of the headwinds that we're facing of inflation, in terms of a technology, you know these are incredibly strong numbers."
"And what's important as well, I think is that they're actually spread across a number of sectors. So we're seeing the life sciences sector, we're seeing our financial services sector, we're actually seeing the technology sector, you know, in terms of enterprise tech in particular being very strong."
"And indeed across our high value engineering. So all four sectors of our key sectors are developing and delivering for us as well."
Although it said it can't rule out further tech job cuts, the IDA is confident about the pipeline for the rest of the year, despite continuing global economic challenges and a recent drop in pharma exports.
It said that while there has been some improvement in the outlook for the global economy, ongoing headwinds including high inflation and geopolitical uncertainty remain.
It also said the international investment landscape continues to evolve as a result of active industrial policy in strategic sectors and the acceleration of green and digital transition.
The inward investment agency also warned that FDI will be well placed to continue to drive growth provided enabling infrastructure challenges in the economy are urgently addressed.
"Progressing with plans to improve the carrying capacity of the economy will be vitally important to enable Ireland to maintain existing levels of investment and to fully realise opportunities in the years ahead," Mr Lohan said.
"IDA Ireland has frequently highlighted the need to efficiently deliver on key objectives including increasing the supply of new housing, making the planning system clearer and more consistent, and progressing key infrastructure projects under the National Development Plan."
However, Mr Lohan added that investors' commitment to Ireland remains strong and the value proposition remains compelling.
The figures were welcomed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, who said last year's record performance had been largely maintained in the first six months of the year, despite significant challenges in the global economy.
The minister also said the Government is acting on infrastructure, including housing and energy, to ensure the carrying capacity is there into the future.
"The growth continues, but the Government does need to focus on investing in infrastructure, particularly around energy and housing to make sure that actually we can keep the capacity in place to facilitate that kind of growth into the future," he said.
"And that's why you'll see the Government continuing to commit more capital for that kind of infrastructure."
