Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the enterprise functions he is retaining for Shannon Development in the Shannon free zone; if the Industrial Development Bill 2006 is taking account of that; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39266/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the new mandate for Shannon Development, the functions in relation to indigenous enterprises hitherto carried by the Company under delegated authority from Enterprise Ireland will revert to Enterprise Ireland on 1 January 2007. This will involve the transfer of a number of staff from Shannon Development to Enterprise Ireland. The purpose of the Industrial Development Bill, 2006 is to provide legislative authority to the Minister to designate the transfer of individual staff members concerned and to provide a statutory guarantee to the staff that their pay, conditions of service and pension arrangements shall be in no way diminished by virtue of the transfer. Shannon Development will retain ownership of industrial property throughout the Mid West region, including the Shannon Free Zone and will also retain responsibility for the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment into the Shannon Free Zone.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 329: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the policy of the Industrial Development Authority in regard to industrial development and promotion at regional level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39361/06]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which the Industrial Development Authority prioritises the cost areas in each region for industrial investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39362/06]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the meaning of the words "industrial development" or "enterprises" in terms of acceptable development or investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39364/06]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Industrial Development Authority policy and investment scheme in regard to investors who develop in priority or core areas is unchanged since 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39366/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 329, 330, 332 and 334 together.

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland. The Agency is committed to achieving the best possible regional balance in investments. In tandem with the National Spatial Strategy (NSS), the Agency is actively encouraging FDI into all regions through the following strategies: Providing reduced, and in many cases zero, grant assistance to companies locating in Dublin; Leveraging the higher grant rate permitted in regions outside Dublin; Having in place a network of regional offices — three of which have specific sectoral responsibilities to attract and support business investment; Encouraging client firms to locate outside of Dublin by developing "Magnets of Attraction" around the Gateway and Hub locations; Providing regionally based property solutions; Designing itineraries around regional locations; and Working closely with local and regional partners to develop the infrastructure offering in each region.

IDA Ireland regularly reviews its strategies to ensure that they are in keeping with Government policy and are responsive to the challenges of a dynamic global economic environment. For example the Agency completed a fundamental review of its overall strategy in November 2005, which resulted in a number of significant changes to the structure of the organisation. The Agency's current regional strategy, which covers the period 2004 to 2006, focuses upon enhanced FDI, identification of Strategic Business Areas, regional economic development and upgrading the educations, skills and research capabilities of the economy. The Agency continues to re-invent its value proposition for inward investment, recognizing changes in global conditions and in our own circumstances. There have been many contributions to this transformation, at Government level, in educational and other public institutions, and in the business sector. Each has pursued improvements in order to be more competitive at more advanced levels of activity. In the case of multinational companies in Ireland, recent years have seen new investments in production and service facilities and, increasingly, in R&D and other innovation activities.

Today's investments are characterised by their leading-edge nature, in terms of technology, such as in Amgen and Intel, or their market innovation, such as in eBay and Google. They are increasingly reliant on a highly skilled workforce. They require an agile, flexible and responsive operating environment. We have now established a reputation globally as a location for advanced manufacturing, sophisticated business services and, increasingly, for leading research and innovation. Each of these areas will be of critical importance to our continuing success. In terms of IDA Ireland prioritising cost in individual regions, costs are centred around advancing the NSS, which provides a framework for the achievement of more investment outside the Dublin region through the prioritisation of investment in the Gateway and Hub locations. The primary needs of new investment projects can be summarised as follows: A high quality urban environment with critical mass in population; A world-class access infrastructure, e.g. Roads, airports etc.; Telecommunications infrastructure including Universities and Institutes of Technology that are located close to Business and Technology Parks; and A range of affordable, state of the art, property solutions.

In line with the NSS IDA Ireland is working with a range of bodies at local and national levels, including utilities providers, local authorities, property developers, universities etc. to enhance regional locations and make them more attractive and competitive for high value and sustainable enterprise development. I am satisfied that the policies and strategies being pursued by IDA Ireland are the most appropriate ones to attract and grow foreign direct investment throughout the country that will, in turn, contribute to balanced regional development and grow sustainable quality employment into the future.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the areas in County Wexford that are priority areas for development and marketing of industrial enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39363/06]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the support that the Industrial Development Authority is offering to investors who will develop in the priority or core areas in each region; if they apply to County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39365/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 333 together.

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland. The Agency is committed to achieving the best possible regional balance in investments. In tandem with the National Spatial Strategy (NSS), the Agency is actively encouraging FDI into all regions, including Wexford, through the following strategies: Providing reduced, and in many cases zero, grant assistance to companies locating in Dublin; Leveraging the higher grant rate permitted in regions outside Dublin; Having in place a network of regional offices — three of which have specific sectoral responsibilities to attract and support business investment; Encouraging client firms to locate outside of Dublin by developing "Magnets of Attraction" around the Gateway and Hub locations; Providing regionally based property solutions; Designing itineraries around regional locations; and Working closely with local and regional partners to develop the infrastructure offering in each region.

In line with the NSS IDA Ireland is working with a range of bodies at local and national levels, including utilities providers, local authorities, property developers, universities etc. to enhance regional locations and make them more attractive and competitive for high value and sustainable enterprise development. Wexford was designated a Hub town under the NSS. IDA Ireland's strategy for Wexford is to promote the County as part of an integrated South-East region that has a population of 420,000 people. Key to IDA Ireland's Strategy for Co. Wexford is to progress within the South East Region the development of a knowledge economy so that the County and Region, and particularly the Hub town of Wexford, can compete both nationally and internationally for FDI. Specifically, this includes working with local development partner agencies in Co. Wexford to advance critical supporting infrastructure, both hard and soft, which will contribute to a sustainable business environment for the long term, and actively engaging with the existing client base in Co. Wexford to encourage their transition to continually higher value activities and to promote further investment in Ireland. IDA Ireland is committed to working with companies such as Lake Region and Waters Technology to ensure that Wexford develops as a successful location for high-end manufacturing from both the medical technologies and engineering sectors.

IDA is currently developing its 65 acre Wexford Business and Technology Park as part of a national property development programme to ensure the availability of international standard property solutions for potential investors into the future. To date, in excess of €5m has been invested in the Wexford Business & Technology Park. IDA has a further 17 acres available in Wexford County at sites in Gorey, New Ross and Enniscorthy. I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland in Wexford will deliver maximum results in terms of attracting additional sustainable investment to the County.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way land (details supplied) was rezoned; the reasons for same; the reason the EU queried the tax incentive scheme for the project; the IDA role in attempting to secure enterprises; if the IDA is still working to attract investment to the locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39367/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The zoning of land is a matter for the planning authorities and policy in relation to tax incentives is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance. IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland. The marketing of individual areas, including, available property solutions, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency.

I understand from IDA Ireland that the parcel of land, about 100 acres, is not, and never has been, in the ownership of IDA Ireland. IDA is currently developing its 65 acre Wexford Business and Technology Park as part of a national property development programme to ensure the availability of international standard property solutions for potential investors into the future. To date, in excess of €5m has been invested in the Wexford Business and Technology Park. IDA has a further 17 acres available in Wexford County at sites in Gorey, New Ross and Enniscorthy.

The delivery of physical, social, and economic infrastructure is key to securing inward investment and IDA Ireland continues to be engaged in identifying and prioritising investment in these areas for Wexford in association with local partners. Positive developments include the delivery of the Metropolitan Area Network to Wexford town.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland in Wexford will deliver maximum results in terms of attracting additional sustainable investment to the County.