John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 545: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits to County Waterford, Dungarvan and Waterford City that have taken place over the past twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20767/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas, including Waterford and Dungarvan, 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 Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

I have been informed by the Agency that from the beginning of September 2006 to date there have been a total 15 site visits to Waterford City, within 30 miles of Dungarvan. There have not been any site visits to Dungarvan or to the rest of County Waterford in the same period. In line with the National Spatial Strategy, IDA Ireland is focussed on advancing the economic development of the South East region primarily through the Gateway of Waterford City, the hub towns of Wexford and Kilkenny and the other key centres of Carlow and Clonmel. Waterford has a long and strong track record as a centre of manufacturing expertise. The County has a key strength in engineering, in both indigenous and overseas sectors. In more recent years however, these have been giving way to newer, more advanced manufacturing, particularly in the Life Sciences sector and also to International & Financial Services activities. When marketing County Waterford for new foreign direct investment, IDA Ireland is focussed on attracting overseas companies in the services and knowledge-based industries (including advanced manufacturing). At present there are 31 IDA Ireland supported companies in Waterford employing approximately 6,100 people.

To enable Waterford City and County to compete both nationally and internationally for FDI, IDA is focusing on the provision of world-class property solutions of scale in the Waterford City area and in the development of property solutions in the county town of Dungarvan, e.g. the Waterford Business & Technology Park and the Dungarvan Business Park. In addition, a 55 hectare Greenfield site, specifically targeted for larger scale utility intensive overseas investments, has been developed in Belview, while a further 20 hectare site on the Kilmeaden road in Waterford city is also available for greenfield investment. In parallel with developments on the property solutions side, IDA Ireland continues to work closely with third level educational institutes in the region so that the skill sets necessary to attract high value-added employment to the County are being developed. In addition, IDA maintains a close relationship with FÁS so that the requirements of industry in the areas of training and up-skilling are being met.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 547: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position in relation to the development of a technological park in Ballina, County Mayo. [20851/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agency and not one in which I have a function.

IDA Ireland has been in discussions with Mayo County Council regarding the acquisition of a 27 acre site on the Sligo Road in Ballina. These discussions have been protracted. The Agency requires unburdened title to the site before it can begin development work on the land. Progress in this matter was delayed due to lengthy legal proceedings over which the Agency had no control and to which the Agency was not a party. The Agency has informed me that these proceedings have now been completed. The Agency is in continuing discussion with the Council with a view to an early resolution of the matter.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 548: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits to Ballina conducted by IDA Ireland in 2006 and to date in 2007. [20852/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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, including Ballina, 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 Acts from giving directives regarding individual undertakings or from giving preference to one area over others.

I have been informed by the Agency that, while there have been 3 visits to other locations in the County from the beginning of 2006 to date, there have not been any site visits to Ballina. Under the National Spatial Strategy (NSS), Castlebar / Ballina form a linked hub. Both towns and Westport are priority locations for IDA and are being actively promoted for new FDI. At present there are 21 IDA supported companies in Mayo employing over 3,000 in permanent jobs, and approximately another 500 in temporary posts. IDA Ireland is committed to the development of Mayo and is working continuously with its existing client base to deepen the global strategic importance of the Irish operations within their parent corporations. However, decisions as to where to visit and where to locate are a matter for the investing company.