Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits which have taken place at a company (details supplied) in County Wexford; the number of visits which went through IDA and Enterprise Ireland; the date the visits took place; the results from each visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13414/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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IDA Ireland has arranged two site visits from potential overseas investors, one in February 2003 and the other in May 2005. Neither of these site visits resulted in a tenant for the building. A profile of the facility has been circulated to IDA Ireland's overseas offices informing them of its competitive rental rate in comparison to locations like Dublin.

Enterprise Ireland has reported that the demand for factory space in the south east has been very slow over the past three years. The agency has brought three groups to view the facility over in the period late 2003 to early 2004. Groups that EI took to view the space included a call centre operation, which project did not proceed; an engineering firm from Northern Ireland, which project, as far as EI is aware, did not proceed in the Republic of Ireland; and a timber frame company for whose requirements the premises was not suitable.

I have been assured by the development agencies, IDA Ireland which is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment and Enterprise Ireland which is concentrating on indigenous industry, that they are actively marketing the factory to potential investors.