Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the land banks owned by the IDA in all locations in County Mayo; the extent of such land banks; the extent of each such land bank unused at present; his plans for each such land bank in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23778/07]

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, is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency and not a matter in which I have a function. I have been informed by IDA Ireland that it owns a total of 64.3 hectares of land in County Mayo, of which 17.24 hectares are unused and being marketed. The table that follows this reply lists the location of the individual properties.

In line with the National Spatial Strategy and the National Development Plan, IDA Ireland has focused 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 Ireland has developed world class business and technology parks in Castlebar and Westport, while discussions are ongoing between the Agency and Mayo County Council about the acquisition of industrially zoned land on the Sligo Road in Ballina. 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.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the companies that have received start up grants from State agencies to date in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23834/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of grant assistance for individual companies is a matter for the development agency or body concerned, and not one in which I have a direct function. Enterprise Ireland has primary responsibility for Irish companies in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors, and supports companies employing 10 or more people, and start-up companies which have the potential to employ 10 or more people and reach or exceed €1 million in exports over three years.

In broad terms, last year Enterprise Ireland supported the establishment of 76 new export-focused high potential companies. The 76 export-focused start-ups, all in knowledge intensive sectors, are expected to grow rapidly and to create over 1,260 new high skilled jobs and generate exports worth €110 million over the next two years. Enterprise Ireland invested €17.5 million of the total €47.5 million investment in the 76 new start-ups. There was a good regional spread among HPSU companies established in 2006. Of the 76 new companies, the majority at 41 are located in regions outside of Dublin, with 35 companies being located in Dublin.

The Enterprise Ireland's Annual high potential start-up firms showcase event will take place in the first quarter of 2008. This event showcases all high potential start-up firms created with Enterprise Ireland support in the previous year. There has been one public high potential start-up announcement this year to date. The company concerned is Eirebloc, which is set to invest €16 million in a Macroom Facility with support from Enterprise Ireland. Some 73 New High Value Jobs are set to be created. While other enterprises are in the process of receiving start up support from Enterprise Ireland, it is not possible due to commercially sensitive reasons to list them in detail. It is anticipated that a comparable number of high potential start-up firms will receive start-up support from Enterprise Ireland in 2007, as in 2006. Details of these success stories will be publicly available in due course and highlighted in Enterprise Ireland's showcase event.

I understand from consultation with Shannon Development that ABC Nutrition Limited, which is based in the Shannon Free Zone, received a start-up grant (feasibility) of €29,945 in 2007. Companies in receipt of assistance from any of the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards are outlined in the boards' Annual Reports. The Annual Reports of the CEBs in respect of 2007 will be available in early 2008.

Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of business parks and industrial sites (details supplied) in County Limerick. [23863/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for development of property solutions for enterprise promotion within County Limerick lies with Shannon Development. Details of the number and location of vacant business parks and industrial sites in County Limerick are as shown in the table.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: 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. [23898/07]

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 to Ireland and its regions. The marketing of individual areas for new or expansion foreign direct 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 date in 2007 IDA Ireland hosted a total of 24 site visits by potential investors to the towns of Ballinrobe, Ballina, Claremorris, Castlebar and Westport as set out in the following tabular statement. One of these visits resulted in the establishment of an industry in County Mayo. There were no site visits to Ballyhaunis, Belmullet or Crossmolina in that period.

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 Foreign Direct Investment into the gateway and hubs, as well as a small number of additional locations, throughout the West, and particularly Mayo through the linked hubs of Ballina and Castlebar, and Westport. IDA Ireland's sectoral emphasis is on attracting new knowledge intensive projects in the Medical Technologies, Life Sciences, Information Communications Technology and International Services sectors. In addition, the Agency is actively working with its existing base of overseas companies in County Mayo to encourage them to grow and expand. The Agency is also investing significantly in the provision of planned and focused property solutions in the County tailored to specific key sectoral targets. Ultimately decisions on where to locate are matters for the investing companies.