Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits that have taken place to the IDA Business Park, Dublin Road, Carlow; the amount spent to date by the IDA on the business park; the amount of money that has been spent marketing the site by the IDA; the reason potential investors are deciding not to locate to the business park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7074/07]

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 (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 in the past 20 months it has hosted 14 visits by potential investors to the Business and Technology Park on the Dublin Road, Carlow. To date almost €11.5 million has been invested by IDA Ireland in the development of the Park.

The marketing of any location in Ireland begins in IDA's overseas offices and is quite a lengthy process. The agency does not breakdown the costs of the separate elements involved in an individual itinerary, such as salaries, travel costs etc. so it is not possible to give a figure for the costs involved in marketing the Carlow Business and Technology Park.

IDA Ireland is actively promoting Carlow Town Business and Technology Park for new foreign investment from the life sciences sector, international and financial services sectors and high value manufacturing activities. The agency's strategy is to market the town's strategic location close to Dublin as providing all of the advantages of an urban location along with the additional advantages of a readily available pool of skilled workers and excellent quality of life.

Decisions on where to locate are ultimately a matter for the investing company and the criteria used by such companies depends on the particular requirements of the company.