Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. O'Rourke, the new chairperson of IDA Ireland. I am based in Ballinasloe, so I am a very close neighbour to him in Athlone. I represent Roscommon–Galway. We are going to have the twentieth anniversary of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. The Minister of State, Deputy Neal Richmond, will be coming down to visit us next Friday. He will be examining his remit in terms of local enterprise offices and connecting them to industry in Roscommon town.

My colleague Deputy Bruton mentioned the action plan for jobs and the work done in this regard. The Deputy has been one of the key drivers of the plan. The work done was absolutely phenomenal and it is a true credit to the Deputy. I know about this because I worked in Science Foundation Ireland at the time in question. I was the person who saw the action plan for jobs and knew there were certain tasks our agency had to ensure would be done. Each agency had responsibility in this regard. At the time in question, from 2012 to 2014, the attention to detail and focus were incredible, not just within one Department but across Departments. This was innovative at the time. I do not know whether the connection between Departments had ever been as established as it was at that point. Suddenly there was very much a Team Ireland effort. I hope and presume this continues in terms of the networks and relationships. I would like to see the engagement continue across various Departments with respect to delivery. I am thinking in particular of the likes of Monksland, a true pharma driver in Athlone, as Mr. O'Rourke will be aware. We have the likes of Alexion and Alkermes. Alexion has recently invested in the area. One can see the construction from the motorway and the brand-new developments.

When speaking to IDA Ireland officials, housing and access thereto arise. The question of how to develop housing is one that we consider in Ballinasloe as well. It is a question of our being able to tell companies we have a wonderful location to base themselves and that they will be connected to the Technological University of the Shannon, TUS, and have a huge workforce within an hour's drive by motorway or within a catchment that includes at least four or five counties.

The importance of development in the midlands is crucial because it has a huge impact. I look at the IDA annual report, and at how in 2022 some 52% of investments were regional, balanced wins. I acknowledge the teams I work closely with, which is IDA Ireland west. I work closely with Ricky Conneely and Imed Abnoun. I have a question for Mr. O'Rourke in his new role. I see a lot of things. I worked in health with Saolta in CHO 2, which is primary care in counties Roscommon, Galway and Mayo. That will change with the new regional ways of looking at health. In education there are now technological universities like ATU in Galway city and the regional campuses are becoming important. There can sometimes be core thinking when the IDA is looking toward the east and dealing with counties Longford and Westmeath. How do we build connectivity between the different IDA Ireland regional teams in an area like Athlone? The Athlone catchment covers an area within approximately one hour of Athlone city. There are a lot of informal connections and a good chamber of commerce. I am taking that as one example of an area. There is also the west, which is wonderful and the best place. When there are agencies working hard across the river how do we ensure there is attention to detail to say there is an opportunity for places like Ballinasloe, which I am looking at? How do we develop and attract industry into a place that was perhaps more traditional? We are now driving a focus on bringing in supply side companies, maybe some of our major FDI multinationals. Does Mr. O'Rourke have any thoughts?