Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together.

I am informed by IDA Ireland that of the 4 IDA Ireland sponsored site visits by potential investors to Roscommon during 2013, 3 included a visit to the IDA facility in Roscommon Town. To date no tenant has been found for the building. There were no IDA Ireland sponsored site visits to County Roscommon during 2012 or to date in 2014.

There were no IDA Ireland sponsored site visits to the facility in Boyle. I have been informed by Enterprise Ireland that the facility in Boyle, which is in the ownership of Green Isle, is currently on the market. Enterprise Ireland understands that Green Isle has no plans for the facility other than disposal but have assured me that the agency’s Food Business Unit will promote the factory should it become aware of any potential new food projects.

The Action Plan for Jobs 2014 includes a commitment to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of the enterprise development agencies and other regional stakeholders in supporting enterprises. My intention is that the framework will be developed on a pilot basis initially, focusing on the Midlands region, and involving the agencies under the remit of my own Department – Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the County and City Enterprise Boards (soon to become Local Enterprise Offices). The objective is to enhance synergies between the agencies and their client companies and build on the competitive strengths of the region to maximise the potential for job creation in both indigenous and foreign owned companies. The role which other public bodies in the region can play in working towards this objective will also be examined as the project develops. The aim is that this framework will serve as a model for other regions of the country.

This exercise will complement the in-depth analysis of our FDI strategy which is currently being undertaken by Forfás and which will take account of factors such as key trends emerging in FDI best practice internationally, Ireland’s strengths in attracting FDI and any changes to the EU’s State Aid Rules, which will come into effect on 1 July 2014. The results of these two exercises will form the basis of IDA Ireland’s strategy from 2015 onwards.