Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am satisfied that IDA Ireland must maintain an adequate supply of marketable serviced land and buildings. The ready availability of property in advance of demand is critical to IDA Ireland’s ability to compete for mobile foreign direct investment. That is particularly the case, given the increasingly competitive global foreign direct investment market and in the context of the result of the UK referendum on EU membership. If IDA Ireland did not have available properties to offer prospective investors, it would significantly diminish the agency’s capacity to attract and win new investments, especially in regional areas. Its regional property programme aims to ensure suitable properties are available outside Dublin by investing €150 million in the provision of buildings and sites in designated regional locations. The portfolio of properties held by IDA Ireland is dynamic and changes to meet industry needs as they emerge. The number of available properties also depends on the level of demand from investor companies. Of course, it is important to mention that the agency also helps to provide property solutions for Enterprise Ireland clients. The objective is always to ensure companies are connected with the right property in the right place in order that the business concerned can thrive and jobs can be created.

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