Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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8. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the recently announced purchase by IDA Ireland from Louth County Council of further lands to increase IDA Ireland's land bank in north Drogheda; the total new acreage of the site; if the site will be serviced sooner than expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53404/22]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of this question is to ask the Tánaiste if he will provide an update on the recent announcement regarding the purchase by IDA Ireland of further lands from Louth County Council to increase IDA Ireland's land bank in Drogheda. This is welcome. I would appreciate any additional details the Tánaiste may have, particularly regarding the total new acreage and if the site will be serviced. This addition will provide some 44 or 45 acres in total. This will be a great advantage to the town, especially if, or when, it is serviced.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Dowd for raising this matter again. He has a keen interest in ensuring that we get more employment and investment into Drogheda. The new IDA Ireland land bank at the Mell in Drogheda forms part of IDA Ireland's long-term strategic plans to position Drogheda and the wider mid-east region to compete for FDI. I have been advised that since acquiring this land bank last year, IDA Ireland has undertaken an infrastructural review on servicing and how best to position the land bank for a potential major investment. The project is at the concept review stage now and a multidisciplinary team has been appointed by IDA Ireland. This review is ongoing and progressing well.

IDA Ireland and Louth County Council have agreed terms on the transfer of seven acres to IDA Ireland. This transfer is currently the subject of a conveyancing process. Once the transfer is complete, it will increase IDA Ireland's current landholding to 46 acres and enhance the marketability and attractiveness of the lands to potential investors. In recent years, IDA Ireland has worked with companies on investments and expansions in County Louth, including WUXI, Wasdell, Almac, PCI Pharma Services, Amazon Web Services, AWS, and Simply NUC. IDA Ireland is pleased to have acquired these two land banks which will enhance its ability to bring capital intensive projects of significant scale to the area.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister's reply. It is good news indeed. It shows joined-up thinking and, literally, joined-up land, which increases road frontage. This site is especially well located as it is beside the motorway. We had significant investment, particularly with AWS building in the town. Areas with these types of data centres need these companies to invest. People who need data need to be beside their data. Hopefully, the fact that AWS is now in Drogheda and operating will make it a more attractive site for inward and other investment by companies that need access to their data in close proximity. This is extremely good news. It is very welcome. I would be grateful if we could get a timeline regarding the servicing of this site. This is critical. Once the site is serviced, it will be up and running. Until that happens, this is a lovely plan but we need the site open and active.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I agree. The acquisition of the extra seven acres by IDA Ireland from Louth County Council makes the entire parcel of land much more attractive to investment. The Deputy knows the geography of the area better than I do, but I know where the site is. The purchase has not just increased the footprint from 39 acres to 46 acres but has also made this a better-shaped site, if this makes any sense. As the Deputy said as well, it provides better access to the road and should make it easier to service. I do not have a timeline for the servicing of the site. I will keep putting pressure on IDA Ireland in this regard. I am conscious that, in the context of County Louth, there has been much investment in Dundalk. There has been a great deal in Drogheda as well, but perhaps not as much. The AWS development is very welcome in Drogheda and is positive in respect of attracting additional investment to the town. The number of jobs there is limited, though, and we want to ensure that we use this 46-acre site on the edge of the town for investments that will be jobs-rich. We want to bring in hundreds of jobs to that site and this is very much what we intend to do.