Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the lands owned by the IDA for industrial or commercial purposes in locations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5894/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year 2006; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5895/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year 2007; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5896/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year 2006; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5897/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year 2006; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5898/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year 2006; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5899/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year 2006; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5900/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year since 2006; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5901/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year 2006; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5902/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year 2006; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5903/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year 2006; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5904/07]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits to a town (details supplied) in County Galway arranged by the IDA for potential foreign direct investors, industrial developers or potential locating multinationals in the year 2006; the level of priority for investment purposes given to the town by comparison with other towns in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5905/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 126, inclusive, together.

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas 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 Industrial Development Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

IDA Ireland has informed me that it owns a total of 33.14 hectares of land in seven of the towns in question. The tabular statement below shows the location and size of each of these holdings. IDA Ireland has no land holdings in Craughwell, Headford, Kinvara, or Portumna.

During 2006 IDA hosted a total of three site visits by potential investors to two of the towns referred to in the above questions — two visits were to Tuam and one visit was to Loughrea.

A central goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of balanced regional development. The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) and the new National Development Plan provide a framework for the achievement of this goal through the prioritization of development and investment in the Gateway and Hub locations. On this basis, IDA Ireland seeks to attract FDI into the Gateway and Hubs, as well as a small number of additional locations, throughout the West, i.e. Galway, Tuam, the linked Hubs of Ballina and Castlebar, as well as Ballinasloe and Westport.

In line with the NSS, the Agency is investing significantly in the provision of planned and focussed property solutions tailored to specific sectoral targets. IDA Ireland's sectoral emphasis is on attracting new knowledge intensive projects in Medical Technologies, Life Sciences, Information Communications and Technology and International Services. Two new Business and Technology parks have been developed in Tuam and in Ballinasloe.

Despite increasing competition, Galway County and City continues to be very successful in winning new FDI. IDA supported companies are showing very strong employment numbers in the County, now accounting for 9,923 permanent jobs.

IDA Ireland continues to work actively with the existing base of overseas companies across the County to encourage them to grow and expand. In addition the Agency is working with local groups, utility providers and other organisations to ensure that the County secures the appropriate infrastructure to enable the existing companies to grow and develop and to make the relevant locations sufficiently attractive for new projects.