Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 397: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the landbanks owned by the IDA in all locations in County Mayo; the extent of such landbanks; the extent of each such landbank unused presently; his plans for each such landbank in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7285/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio, including the purchase of land and the creation of business parks, are day-to-day operational matters for the agency and not matters in which I have a function. I have been informed by IDA Ireland that it owns a total of 59.71 hectares of land in County Mayo, of which 24.20 hectares are in use and 25.51 hectares are unused and currently being marketed. The tabular statement below sets out the location of the individual properties.

In line with the National Spatial Strategy and the National Development Plan, IDA Ireland has focussed on developing quality business parks in gateway and hub locations, and in a number of county towns to meet the express needs of its clients. In County Mayo, IDA has developed world class Business and Technology Parks in Castlebar and in Westport. The Agency is at an advanced stage in the acquisition of 10.29 hectares on the Sligo Road in Ballina, also for development as a Business and Technology Park. IDA is actively marketing Mayo through its network of overseas offices and it is continuing to work with its existing base of overseas companies in County Mayo to encourage them to grow and expand.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of IDA visits arranged for towns (details supplied) in County Mayo in the past five years; the number of such visits that were followed up and resulted in jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7286/07]

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.

In the period 2002 to 2006 IDA Ireland hosted a total of 23 site visits by potential investors to the towns of Castlebar, Ballina, Claremorris, Westport and Ballinrobe, as set out in the tabular statement below. One of these visits resulted in the establishment of an industry in County Mayo. There were no site visits to Ballyhaunis, Belmullet or Crossmolina. A central goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of balanced regional development. In line with the National Spatial Strategy, IDA Ireland seeks to attract FDI into the gateway and hub locations as well as into a small number of additional locations throughout the West, and particularly Mayo, through the linked hubs of Ballina and Castlebar, and Westport.

IDA Ireland has already developed world class Business and Technology Parks in Castlebar and in Westport and is at an advanced stage in the acquisition of 10.29 hectares on the Sligo Road in Ballina for the development of a Business and Technology Park. IDA Ireland's sectoral emphasis is on attracting new knowledge intensive projects in the Medical Technologies, Life Sciences, Information Communications and Technology and International Services sectors. IDA is actively marketing Mayo through its network of overseas offices and it is continuing to work with its existing base of overseas companies in County Mayo to encourage them to grow and expand.