Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans for business in industry to locate at the business park, Askeaton, County Limerick. [32203/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the development of property solutions for enterprise promotion in the Mid West Region lies with Shannon Development. IDA Ireland is the national agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions (including Co. Limerick), while Shannon Development is responsible for indigenous industry in the Mid-West region and FDI in the Shannon Free Zone.

Both Shannon Development and IDA Ireland work closely together in the development, promotion and marketing of tailored property solutions throughout the Mid West, including the Shannon Development-owned land bank of 228 acres at Askeaton. The location has been identified as an important site from a business and employment perspective for both Co. Limerick and the wider Region, in the Planning and Land Use Transportation Study, the Mid-West Regional Planning Guidelines and the Limerick County Development Plan.

Typical FDI projects which IDA Ireland seeks to win are in advanced higher-value manufacturing and services activities (often containing an R&D element) requiring high-level skills, infrastructure and advanced business services. The Askeaton site is being actively marketed through IDA Ireland's network of overseas offices as a solution for utility intensive projects.

Ultimately decisions regarding where to locate an FDI project are taken by potential investors based on the ability of locations to support their business needs. In this context the Askeaton site is nationally significant given its proximity to Foynes and Limerick Ports, to urban clusters in Limerick City and Askeaton, railhead access on the Foynes-Limerick route and its site boundary with the N69 providing direct access to southern ports such as Cork and Rosslare. The completion of the Southern Ring Road and the proposed Limerick Tunnel will furthermore enable direct road access to Shannon Airport for passenger and freight services and will facilitate access to the West and East Coasts including Dublin Port.