Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy D'Arcy for raising this issue. I know he has a particular interest in ensuring Wexford gets its share of jobs. I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, who was unable to attend due to a prior diary commitment.

I think it would first be useful to set out some information on the aims and operation of the IDA regional property programme. As Deputies may be aware, this initiative was launched in February 2015 by the Government and it is being delivered by the agency over a five-year period up to 2019. The fundamental aim of the programme is to allow the IDA to invest in property solutions that will serve to attract further foreign direct investment opportunities and win additional projects for the regions outside Dublin and Cork. In practical terms, this means equipping the IDA with the means to improve existing business parks and acquire and service suitable sites. The programme also entails the construction of advance facilities, which can be marketed to prospective investors, in areas of the country where the private sector has been slow to build. The availability of such advance facilities is an important part of the programme and 30% of the total funding available has, therefore, been allocated towards their construction.

To answer Deputy D'Arcy's point as to why Wexford was not included, it is important to point out that IDA Ireland, in determining the most appropriate sites for these facilities, has applied a set of key criteria. These include the following: the population density of the area in the question; the nature of other commercial activity and investment in those surroundings; the proximity of third level educational institutions, given their importance as effective feeders of employees for new companies; and the availability of local infrastructure than can support and foster further development in the area. It was on this basis that nine locations were selected for facilities at this particular stage, including Sligo, Athlone, Tralee, Galway, Limerick, Castlebar, Dundalk and Waterford. Facilities at six of these locations are due for completion this year and the remaining three, including Waterford, are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.

It is important to point out the advance facilities, although important, form only part of the IDA's regional property offering and the agency has other tools at its disposal to help attract investment to the regions. In respect of Wexford, for example, the IDA has two business parks, one in Wexford Town and one in Enniscorthy, both of which the agency’s officials are intensively marketing in order to attract new investment. Furthermore, the IDA holds a further 1.8 hectares of land at Drinagh which it hopes to be the home of future investment. We should not forget that arguably a more efficient way to increase FDI in regional locations is deepening and strengthening engagement with client companies that are already there. In other words, where there is foreign investment, it is vital to consolidate this in order to increase the footprint of such companies. We note that IDA statistics are clear that approximately 70% of all new FDI comes from existing clients.

Wexford is home to 17 existing IDA Ireland clients which, between them, employ almost 2,630 people in a range of manufacturing and service operations. There is potential to increase the size of this existing FDI footprint and that is why IDA Ireland is constantly engaging with these client companies to explore the potential for further investment. This approach has already borne fruit and in 2016 client companies already present in the county increased their employment numbers by almost 150 positions.

I want to conclude by emphasising the Government is committed to regional development all across Ireland, including in Wexford. The regional property programme is an important and useful tool but the IDA will continue to pursue all options and avenues to help win further FDI for Wexford, the south-east and Ireland as a whole.

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