Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures IDA Ireland has taken to attract industry to Listowel and Tralee, County Kerry, respectively, that is foreign direct investment; the number of IDA Ireland organised itineraries to Listowel and Tralee, respectively, since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17975/05]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will meet a representative group from County Kerry, including the county manager, representatives from the chamber of commerce, IBEC and SIPTU, in the near future to discuss the failure of IDA Ireland to attract any foreign direct investment into County Kerry over the past five years and to discuss the recent IBEC report, Securing Kerry's Future, on the future of Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17974/05]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the recent initiatives which have been taken by both his Department and IDA Ireland to attract foreign direct investment into County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17984/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 93 and 268 together.

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, FDI, to Ireland, including its regions and areas. While I may give general policy directives to the agency under the Industrial Development Acts, I am precluded from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

IDA Ireland's strategy for Kerry is to win high value investments in the international services, engineering and ICT sectors. Such investments, be they greenfield or expansion of existing operations, are often related to research activities and require high level skills, infrastructure and business services. The result of such investment is that it generates more high value products, services and higher paid jobs. IDA Ireland is pursuing this strategy within the national spatial strategy which has designated Tralee and Killarney as linked hubs. The objective is to create the environment that is demanded by overseas investors.

To continue to improve the attractiveness of south Kerry as a location for inward investment, IDA Ireland has completed site development works on its business and technology park at Tiernaboul, Killarney, County Kerry. The site area totals 4.66 hectares and the work involved significant landscaping, access development and site clearance, all of which has resulted in the upgrading of the overall appeal of the location. The work undertaken has cost in the region of €1 million. In addition, a local group of business people have completed a new building of 14,716 sq. ft. on a site acquired from IDA Ireland on this park. IDA Ireland is actively marketing this facility to potential investors but to date no client interest has been expressed.

Shannon Development has responsibility for the provision of property solutions in north Kerry. IDA Ireland is actively marketing the Kerry technology park, KTP, adjacent to the Institute of Technology, Tralee, and also the Listowel development centre, as property solutions to potential overseas investors. Since 2000, there have been a total of 13 visits to the Kerry area by IDA Ireland client companies, nine of which have included Tralee in their itinerary and four of which have visited Listowel.

Fundamental to regional success is the quality, calibre and drive of the third level education infrastructure in the region. Universities and institutes of technology are the foundations for development of more advanced economies. Kerry is well served by its progressive and forward thinking institute of technology in Tralee. IDA Ireland continues to work closely with this institute in the development of new areas of opportunity through the IDA Ireland's strategic business group and towards greater industry collaboration and research through its education skills and research group.

In addition to targeting potential new projects, the agency is also working with its existing portfolio of companies in the region, with a view to supporting such companies with potential expansions and diversification of activities.

At the end of 2004, there were 2,022 people in permanent employment in 21 IDA Ireland-supported companies in County Kerry. I am pleased that three new projects were announced in Kerry in 2004 namely Dollinger (Ireland), Liebherr Container Cranes Limited and Fujisawa.

I welcome the initiative by IBEC in undertaking a review of economic development in the county. I note from the report, Securing Kerry's Future, that there are challenges to be overcome in the provision of infrastructure and in the development of the necessary conditions for business to grow in the region. In this regard, it is my intention to visit the Kerry area as soon as my departmental and parliamentary commitments permit and I look forward to discussion with the local chambers of commerce and other interested groups about employment prospects specifically and economic development generally in the region.