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

I thank the Deputies for their remarks. We have some very good IDA lands and a very good IDA site in Ballinasloe. The priority there would be to get it developed and get jobs into it. I do not know whether we need to expand it or not to include the old St. Brigid’s Hospital lands but I will certainly speak to the IDA about that. Decisions on property transactions are not made by the Minister for very good reasons so I cannot make a commitment on it because that is beyond my powers. However, I will certainly speak to the CEO of the IDA about it. I have been to the land in Ballinasloe and I would be confident that we would be able to secure investment there at some point in the future. There is also quite a significant land bank in Athenry as well, which I think could be useful in the future too.

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