Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know the site well. I drive past it regularly. It has extraordinary potential. It is known locally as the Amgen site because there was an expectation that there would be a significant development there quite some time ago now. However, the site still has significant potential.

The availability of quality business parks and strategic sites, coupled with advance building solutions, is a critical component of the regional value proposition and winning of investments into the regions, particularly outside of Dublin. The 56 ha site in Ballyadam, Carrigtwohill, is part of the IDA's overall strategic land portfolio in Cork and is available to support FDI clients.

The site was historically designated as a strategic site for development of a large-scale, stand-alone industrial enterprise and was reserved for this purpose in the previous local area plan. IDA Ireland acknowledged that this represented a constraint that precluded the consideration of any industrial or other employment-generating development project on the lands at Ballyadam unless it was a stand-alone, high-quality industrial development that occupied the entire site. The IDA made a formal submission in respect of an amendment to the Cobh municipal district draft local area plan to enable future flexibility in the development of the lands. IDA Ireland supported the deletion of that restriction and the adoption of a more flexible specific objective for the lands at Ballyadam.

The site is adjacent to the N25, which is a national primary route. The proximity of the site to the N25 and the planned provision of an interchange are significant factors in enhancing the attractiveness of the site as a location for FDI projects.

I am assured by the IDA that it is committed to the promotion of the lands at Ballyadam for development for employment-generating uses consistent with its development brief. The amendment to the local area plan affecting these lands, with the omission of the constraint limiting their development to a stand-alone industrial user and the planned provision of the grade-separated interchange on the N25 adjacent to the subject lands, will serve to enhance the prospects of realising this objective.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

There has been significant property activity involving the site over recent years, which has included land discussions with EirGrid to support the Celtic interconnector project, engagement with Cork County Council on the proposed M25 upgrade and the associated potential land requirement to facilitate same. IDA Ireland has also engaged in future-proofing the land bank for development, which included planning permission for a new vehicular access and internal road network within the site to support potential investment in advance of any upgrade to the N25 road network. This project included extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including Cork County Council and various utility providers.

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