Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his assessment of the need for the IDA to provide serviced sites for industrial development in areas where there has not been investment in industry; if consideration has been given by his Department to the need for such sites to attract investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33266/06]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his assessment of the need for the IDA to change their strategy in regard to having industrial land banks in areas that have not benefited from industrial development as compared to adjacent to other areas within counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33267/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together.

It is evident from international research that the availability of suitable property solutions is key to the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI). IDA Ireland's property portfolio has been a fundamental pillar in helping sell Ireland as a location for mobile inward investment since the 1960's and remains so to the present day.

Over the past 35 years, IDA has invested in property in advance of need and the Agency's approach has evolved during that time to meet the differing needs of the state at different times.

From its strategy of building IDA owned advance factories throughout the country in the 1970s, IDA has, today, progressed to facilitating private developments, built to world-class standards, in its Business and Technology Parks throughout the country.

In addition, the Agency has, in recent years, been developing infrastructure-rich sites for utility-intensive industry in Cork, Dundalk, Galway and Waterford. The concentration of the pharmaceutical industry in Ringaskiddy in Cork shows the merits of such an approach, as does the success of Grange Castle in South County Dublin.

In line with the national strategy, IDA continues to place a strong emphasis on achieving a better distribution of overseas investment in regional locations. In keeping with this strategy 87% of all IDA land and 69% of all buildings are outside the Dublin area.

Under the Strategic Management Initiative (SMI), an Expenditure Review of IDA's Property Programme was carried out in 2004. The Review was conducted by a steering group, which comprised of officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; the Department of Finance; Forfas and the Office of Public Works. This Body concluded that the Agency's property programme was being managed effectively and efficiently.

In addition, IDA Ireland furnishes me annually with a report on its property functions and I am satisfied that the policies being pursued by Agency are satisfactory and will continue to remain pivotal in attracting foreign direct investment to this country and its regions in the future.