Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for the Ballina and Mayo region in general in view of the Celtic tiger and that Ballina and Mayo as a county remains a notorious unemployment black-spot area; his views on whether investment in infrastructure is needed in the western area of the country; if the necessary infrastructure investment will take place in Ballina and Mayo; when he will ensure that the IDA will fulfil its promise of establishing adequate employment in Mayo and maintain balance of regional development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4108/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas, including Mayo, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day to day operational matter for the agency. While I may give general policy directives to the agency, I am precluded under the Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

The agency has specifically assured me it is actively marketing and promoting the linked hub towns of Ballina, Castlebar and Westport for new greenfield investment. However the attraction of FDI to regional locations such as Mayo is not an easy task, with clients looking at Ireland often only willing to consider larger centres that have the scale, infrastructure and services capable of sustaining their investment.

In line with the national spatial strategy, a key goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of balanced regional development. In this regard IDA Ireland is seeking to promote all regions and works closely with a range of local bodies including the county development boards, the local authorities, utility providers, third level institutes, private sector property solution providers etc., with a view to encouraging infrastructure development and expanding the number of alternative locations within Ireland that overseas investors will consider.

In the west region the agency is investing significantly in the development of world class business and technology parks at a number of towns throughout Mayo. The goal is to ensure that these locations have the appropriate property solutions, tailored to specific key sectoral targets, to attract inward investments. Specifically in Ballina, IDA Ireland is at an advanced stage in the acquisition of 27 acres of land on the Sligo Road with a view to developing a high quality business and technology park.

At the end of 2004, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 22 IDA Ireland-supported companies in Mayo employing 3,213 people. The agency is actively working with these clients with a view to encouraging them to grow and expand.

I am confident the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland in the county together with the ongoing commitment by Government to regional development will bear fruit in terms of overseas investment and jobs for County Mayo.