Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the land and buildings in her Department's ownership in County Wicklow; the length of time they have been in the ownership of her Department; when a site visit was last carried out on each of these locations with a view to locating an industry there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28267/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Industrial Development Acts, 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.

I understand from IDA Ireland that it owns a total of total of 69.09 hectares of land in Wickow, a 20 hectare Business Park in Bray, a 24.9 hectare Business Park in Greystones and a 24.19 hectare Business park in Arklow. These lands have been in IDA ownership since 1990, 1984 and 1998 respectively. In addition, the Agency has only one building in the county- Ballynattan House on the Arklow lands.

When prospective investors are being brought to visit the county they are advised regarding the range of property solutions available and I am informed that the last such visit to Wicklow took palace in late 2006. Through its range of overseas offices, IDA Ireland continues to promote Wicklow for further foreign investment across all sectors. Wicklow's proximity to Dublin, together with the rail and road links combine to enhance its attractiveness as a site for overseas mobile investment. The Agency promotes its own parks in Greystones and Arklow as well as other public and private parks in several Wicklow locations in collaboration with the enterprise staff in Wicklow County Council.