John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the IDA plans for job creation in Castlebar, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34293/07]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 466: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the IDA plans for job creation in Ballina, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34294/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 466 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.

A central goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of Balanced Regional Development. The National Spatial Strategy provides a framework for the achievement of this goal through the prioritisation of development and investment in gateway towns and hub locations. On this basis, 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. In relation to Mayo, the Agency is actively promoting the linked hubs of Ballina and Castlebar and Westport for additional overseas investment and jobs. 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.

IDA Ireland continues to work closely with its existing base of overseas companies in County Mayo to encourage them to grow and expand. In addition the Agency is investing significantly in the provision of planned and focused property solutions, tailored to specific key sectoral targets, to attract inward investments to the county.

At present, there are over 3,000 people employed in IDA supported companies in County Mayo. The recent announcement that Baxter International Inc., a world leading health care company, is to invest more than €75 million over a six year period as part of a strategic programme to introduce new technologies and higher value products to its manufacturing plants in Castlebar and Swinford, is a most welcome development.

I am satisfied that the strategies and policies being pursued by the Industrial Development Agency, together with the roll out of the National Development Plan 2007-2013, will continue to bear fruit in terms of investment and job creation for the people of Mayo.