Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am familiar with the IDA plans for 19 advanced building facilities around the country. By way of an update, the Carlow facility is almost ready, while the one in Cavan is expected to be ready in 2023. The IDA has recently purchased lands in Kerry, while the facilities at Galway, Dundalk, Monaghan and Sligo have all been built. Planning permission was recently granted for a facility in Athlone and the plans for Mullingar are advancing. As the Minister of State said, there is a commitment to deliver plants in Longford, Mullingar and Athlone before 2024. I implore the Minister of State to visit Longford at his earliest convenience to meet officials from Longford County Council. It behoves the local authority to take the lead on this and acquire a site. On that basis, there would be no excuse for the IDA but to press ahead. The quest for a site has been dragging on for too long. We need the local authority to take the lead on this and then IDA Ireland can follow through with the investment.

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