Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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6. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the plans in place to locate a new enterprise at a vacant plant (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the number of visits to the site that have been organised by the Industrial Development Agency in 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5843/15]

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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This question concerns the Johnson & Johnson ALZA plant at in Cashel, County Tipperary, which has been vacant for some time. It is a state-of-the-art facility and I am looking for an update on the situation.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by IDA Ireland that the former Johnson & Johnson ALZA plant in Cashel is in the process of changing hands. IDA Ireland understands that discussions between the company, Johnson & Johnson, and a private investment entity are ongoing. IDA Ireland is contacting the new owner through Johnson & Johnson. I have asked IDA Ireland to work with the new owner to try to deliver high value sustainable jobs for Cashel. The Deputy appreciates that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

The agency informs me that there were three site visits by potential investors to County Tipperary in 2014. In respect of Cashel, I am informed by IDA Ireland that it is also working with the Ranbaxy pharmaceutical facility in Cashel in supporting plans to boost productivity on the site. In County Tipperary as a whole, there are 11 IDA Ireland client companies employing 3,370 people in full and part-time employment. Cashel, located in south Tipperary, is marketed by IDA Ireland as part of the south-east region along with counties Waterford, Wexford, Carlow and Kilkenny. The main clusters that have emerged in the south east are high-value manufacturing, pharmaceutical, medical devices and engineering, and international financial services.

We are developing a regional enterprise strategy for the south east and for the mid-west. We seek to develop all aspects, multinational and the much larger domestic enterprise sector, in the course of those plans.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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The former Johnson & Johnson ALZA plant in Cashel is a state-of-the-art facility. Unfortunately, it has been vacant for some time and I thought there would have been a stronger push by the IDA to fill the plant. In the town of Cashel, 1,060 people are on the live register. The town needs employment and there is no doubt it should be possible to install a new occupant in the plant. This is particularly true in light of the other flagship pharmaceutical and medical industries in the county, Abbott Ireland Vascular Division, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Boston Scientific and others. I ask the Minister and the IDA to ensure the plant is occupied as soon as possible.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy that no effort is spared by the IDA to pursue opportunities for the site. It is state of the art. If there was any slacking on the part of the IDA, the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, would keep them up to their job. He is regularly in contact about opportunities in the area. The plant is owned by Johnson & Johnson and it is not an IDA plant. There is more than one party to this. There is close collaboration between the IDA and Johnson & Johnson and we intend that the same relationship will be developed in the hands of the new owner. We are anxious to see the facility, which is a fantastic asset to the region, fully utilised.