John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As regard specific lands owned by the IDA Ireland - I have met its representatives on a number of occasions particularly in the south-east - it remains important that the agency has a supply of available sites that can be offered to firms considering making job-rich investments in Ireland. Regarding contacts with IDA Ireland, based on my knowledge of the region I represent, there is no doubt that IDA Ireland works closely with city and county councils to ensure that its property acquisitions are in line with local area, county and city development plans. IDA Ireland-owned sites are never left intentionally idle or vacant. In fact, from my experience the opposite is the case. IDA Ireland is doing everything it possibly can to showcase these properties to investors and to convince them to locate there.

There are pressures on sites and so on, but there are two issues that arise. The Deputy rightly mentioned contacts with IDA Ireland. I firmly believe that the regional and local areas are aware of the landbanks that are available and the housing needs in those areas. They consistently communicate with IDA Ireland. The Government has an objective to develop foreign direct investment and locate big companies outside Dublin and the major cities, in areas where IDA Ireland has landbanks. It would be regressive if some of the locally-held IDA Ireland land was not available if foreign companies came to regions looking to set up there.

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