Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts which have been made to attract an anchor industry to the new industrial park at Ballinasloe, County Galway; the efforts made by IDA Ireland to attract such industrialists; if his attention has been drawn to the grave unemployment situation in Ballinasloe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22053/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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IDA Ireland in the west region is investing significantly in the provision of a number of planned and focused property solutions. IDA Ireland is developing world class business and technology parks at a number of towns throughout the west region, including Ballinasloe. The goal is to ensure that these locations have the appropriate property solutions tailored to specific key sectoral targets to attract inward investments. This means the provision of a high quality business and technology park and, in co-operation with the private sector, the provision of a new advance technology building in the town. It also means undertaking long-term planning with the local authority so that the area is seen by investors as having the appropriate locational solutions for key strategic investments of national importance, such as property, infrastructure, business and lifestyle services, etc.

IDA Ireland is actively promoting Ballinasloe for new foreign investment and is committed to the development of County Galway. It has acquired 35 acres of land at Creagh on the east side of Ballinasloe and has developed it as a new business and technology park. It has co-operated closely with local private developers to construct a 27,000 sq. ft. advance technology building on the park, which is now occupied by Valois, a French engineering company that is successfully operating a manufacturing facility there. The company plans to employ 60 people at full production and is making excellent progress against plan. The construction of a further advance technology building on the park, with an area of 29,000 sq. ft. is reaching completion and is being marketed to potential investors.

IDA Ireland has also provided a site to the ESB for the construction of a 38 kV station to satisfy the electricity needs of new projects locating on the park. Construction of the station has begun. Total investment in the park to date is approximately €7.5 million for both site development works and the construction of two advance technology buildings. IDA Ireland is actively working with existing base of overseas companies in the county and the Ballinasloe area to encourage them to grow and expand. Since January 2005, there has been six first time site visits to Ballinasloe. In addition, the agency is working with local groups, utility providers and other agencies to ensure that the county secures the appropriate infrastructure to enable the existing companies grow and develop and to make the area sufficiently attractive for new projects.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts which have been made to attract an anchor industry to the new industrial park in Tuam, County Galway; the efforts made by IDA Ireland to attract such industrialists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22054/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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IDA Ireland in the west region is investing significantly in the provision of planned and focused property solutions. IDA Ireland is developing world class business and technology parks at a number of towns throughout the west region, including Tuam. The goal is to ensure that these locations have the appropriate property solutions, tailored to specific key sectoral targets, to attract inward investments. This means the provision of a high quality business and technology park and in co-operation with the private sector the provision of flagship facilities. It also means undertaking long-term planning with the local authority so that the area is seen by investors as having the appropriate locational solutions for key strategic investments of national importance, for example, property, infrastructure, business and lifestyle services, etc.

IDA Ireland is committed to the development of County Galway and is investing in the provision of focused and planned property solutions for Tuam. It has acquired 27 acres of land on the Dunmore road in Tuam and has developed it as a new business and technology park. IDA Ireland has received advance planning permission for the construction of two 7,500 sq.ft. and two 5,000 sq.ft. advance technology units on the park. Site development works for the provision of these units have just been completed. Tenders for the development of the aforementioned units will shortly be sought from the private sector. IDA Ireland's total investment in the park to date is in the order of €3.5 million.

IDA Ireland is committed to securing knowledge based, value added FDI for Tuam and is actively marketing the town to potential investors. IDA Ireland will continue to actively work with the existing base of overseas companies in the county and the Tuam area to encourage them to grow and expand. Since January 2003, there have been four first time site visits to the town. In addition, the agency is working with local groups, utility providers and other agencies to ensure that the county secures the appropriate infrastructure to enable the existing companies grow and develop and to make the area sufficiently attractive for new projects.