Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Of course, we want to see more foreign direct investment in Carlow and the surrounding area, as we do in all regions. That is what IDA Ireland's regional property programme has been designed to do. It seeks to encourage investors to locate outside the main urban areas. I accept that there have been delays in identifying a site in Carlow, but I understand from IDA Ireland that the issues have been largely resolved. The project is at design stage and it is aimed to complete it by quarter 2 of 2019. As the Deputy well knows, having raised the matter with me on many occasions, the advance facility will be a major asset for Carlow and the south-east region generally. It will build on recent successes in the county such as the announcement made by MSD. That is the kind of investment I want to see in counties like Carlow and across rural Ireland. I have no doubt that the Deputy will continue to remind me of the importance of these matters.

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