Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has stated funding of up to €250 million is available. As I hate the phrase "up to", what is the figure? Is it €250 million? Will all of it be spent? I am sure the Minister will say, "Yes," but will she tell us how it will be spent? "Up to €250 million" could mean €5, €250 million or anywhere in between.

A bugbear of mine, about which the Minister will hear repeatedly, concerns IDA Ireland and site visits. In a previous life I had personal experience of having to intervene to ensure Amneal located in Cashel because I was not satisfied with how the site issue was being dealt with. Why have only three advance sites been identified with regard to the €150 million to be used? How long will it take us to use the rest of the money? What are the timelines in which it will be used? Will the Minister break down for 2014, 2015 and the first six months of 2016 the number of approaches IDA Ireland has made throughout the country in the purchase of sites for companies that wish to locate in Ireland? Obviously, we do not want sensitive data on the locations.

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