Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funds made available by the Government and his Department to fund land banks, or receipts returned to his Department, and the policy issues that arise due to the changes, additions or reductions to the land banks available to State agencies charged with industrial and employment growth, in the major cities and by regions for the past five years; the date for such changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6317/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The management of the State's land banks for industrial development purposes are vested in IDA Ireland, who provide property solutions to its client companies and those of Enterprise Ireland, and in Shannon Development, who perform a similar role in the Shannon region.

IDA Ireland is developing a regional network of strategic sites to attract sector specific investment as well as providing bespoke property solutions, at commercial rates, in its business parks and sites throughout the country. This property programme is mostly funded from the Agency's own resources that are generated from property sales and lettings.

In the past five years (2003 to 2007) a total of €44.9m has been provided to IDA Ireland by way of Exchequer funding, through a Subhead in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Vote. This represents a relatively small proportion of the total cost of the programme over these years. The agency holds a number of vacant properties for marketing purposes at any one time and there are costs associated with building and site maintenance. Shannon Development is a limited company and operates its land bank without state aid.

The amount of land held by the agencies may vary from time to time depending on the prevailing economic circumstances. The availability of tailored property solutions for existing or prospective clients is one important marketing tool for the Agencies. The trend over recent years has been to consolidate holdings and to divest of properties deemed no longer suitable for promotion. In this connection an Expenditure Review of IDA Ireland's Property Programme, which was led by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and concluded in 2004, noted that the property programme was being managed efficiently and effectively by the Agency. Furthermore, the Review noted with approval the largely self- financing nature of the property function and recommended that it be continued as a central part of financial planning within the Agency. In addition, the Review approved of the Agency's policy of disposing of property solutions no longer needed while, at the same time, recognizing the Agency's need to have a set amount of property available for marketing at any one time.

The management of the property programme is a day-to-day operational matter for the Agencies and not one in which I have a function. Accordingly, the Deputy's query has been forwarded to the Secretary of IDA Ireland and the Secretary of Shannon Development for their attention.