Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome our guests. I am glad to have the Minister of State with us as well. I would like to take this opportunity, which is the first I have had, to congratulate him on his new appointment. As they say, no better man for this job than his good self.

I would like to talk to the Minister of State about a new IDA advance technology building that has been completed in County Monaghan. The new 1,400 sq. m building was built at the IDA Business and Technology Park just outside Monaghan town at Knockaconny. It has ancillary office space over two floors. Advanced technology buildings, which are referred to as ATBs, are designed to facilitate a change of function to advance office buildings, if required. They also have 100% expansion capability, which is a very good feature.

The IDA said these ATBs offer ready for occupation, high-specification flexible and sustainable property solutions suitable for high-value manufacturing and global business services to support the winning of investment from foreign direct investment clients. The Monaghan development is part of IDA Ireland's wider regional property programme, the objective of which is to develop property solutions in regional locations across the country in places such as Monaghan. The initiative is vital in supporting the Border region in particular because in the past, the region has been left behind.This new facility must now help to attract more investment to a county and region that has previously had to fend for itself. I am aware that advertisements to potential investors began when the building was completed towards the end of last year and that is an ongoing process. I am also informed that the IDA is actively promoting this facility across 24 offices across the globe. I hope that the IDA can find an investor with long-term potential and one that has the potential to grow even further.

County Monaghan and the Border regions have for far too long exported their children to the capital city and further afield. It is interesting to note recent statistics, which state that Monaghan has in more recent years had one of the highest levels of young people going to third-level institutions of any county in the State. However, unfortunately, many of our young people who graduate have no work in their native county to return to. That is something that we need to address. That is why a county like Monaghan is long overdue some foreign direct investment. I believe that this facility has the potential to kickstart that development. I appreciate that the Minister of State may be curtailed in what he can say to us this afternoon, but I am hoping that he might be able to outline what progress has been made to date by the IDA in trying to find a tenant. How many site visits have there been? Hopefully, as a result of those site visits, we might have some positive news for the county shortly.