Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Tánaiste and Minister with responsibility for enterprise, trade and employment, my focus is to lead our country through the economic crisis that has been caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. My Department and the enterprise agencies under my remit are doing everything possible to sustain businesses and get our people safely back to work in all parts of our country.

IDA Ireland has been working closely with Roche ever since its decision to close the Clarecastle facility in 2015. I recognise the interest that Deputies Cathal Crowe and Carey have taken in the site since then. IDA Ireland continues to market the site actively to prospective investors through its network of offices in Ireland and overseas.

Roche is now focusing on remediation and has commenced works to decommission the site. The company has also developed digital content of its plans which can be shared with potential investors who may wish to take over the site.

The Department and IDA Ireland will continue to work hard to drive new investment and job creation for County Clare and the broader mid-west. There are 67 IDA client companies in County Clare employing more than 7,000 people with in excess of 220 net new jobs added by foreign direct investment, FDI, firms in 2019.

More broadly, it is clear that FDI will have an important role to play in Clare, the mid-west and throughout Ireland as we seek to recover from the damage caused by Covid-19. Balanced regional development is a priority for this Government and will be an objective in the IDA's new strategy which I look forward to launching in the coming months.

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