Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans for business and industry to locate at the business park at Askeaton, County Limerick. [15651/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The attraction of business and industry to the business park at Askeaton is a day to day operational matter for the relevant development agencies, IDA Ireland and Shannon Development. As the Deputy is aware, IDA Ireland is the national agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions, while Shannon Development is responsible for indigenous industry in the area.

The Askeaton business park is a Shannon Development owned land bank, comprising approximately 227 acres. The main employer located there at present is Wyeth Nutritional which is an IDA supported company employing approximately 600 people. Both IDA Ireland and Shannon Development are actively promoting and marketing the business park at Askeaton to potential investors and are working closely to develop a common approach to planning at the park. Ultimately, decisions regarding where to locate a project, including what areas to visit as potential locations, are taken by investors.

I understand the Askeaton business park has been identified as an important site from a business and employment perspective for both the county and the region in the planning and land use transportation study, the mid-west regional planning guidelines and in the draft county development plan.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland and Shannon Development will bear fruit in terms of the attraction of additional industry and jobs to the park.