Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Priority is being given to encouraging FDI to set up in the Border region. That is a distinct feature of the IDA's latest plan, in which we have committed to strategic investment in advance facilities in Sligo, Letterkenny and Dundalk and we have committed to increase the number of projects won by 40%. InterTradeIreland and INTERREG are focused on the needs of SMEs with export potential. The food economy offers opportunities because there is capacity planning both North and South. There is a good deal of cross-Border trade in this area and much of the company thinking we support is not confined to particular counties. The green economy and renewables are specifically included in the research call to go after that particular sector. The call under INTERREG will specifically go after that corridor. The agenda being set by that Border development corridor concept involves several areas in which we are working.