Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits by Industrial Development Authority representatives with potential investors in job creation to the centres in Gort, Loughrea and Ballinasloe during 2005, 2006 and 2007; the availability of potential sites or developed facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32904/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

I have been informed by the Agency that in 2005 there was one visit by potential investors to Gort and 6 visits to Ballinasloe. In 2006, there was one such visit to Loughrea but in 2007 there were no visits to any of these towns. While IDA Ireland can and does encourage clients to visit particular locations, the final decision on where to visit or locate is taken in all cases by the clients. A central goal for IDA Ireland is the achievement of balanced regional development. In line with the National Spatial Strategy, the Agency is concentrating its efforts on the gateway city of Galway and the hub town of Tuam.

In addition IDA is investing significantly in the provision of world class property solutions in the area and is developing Business and Technology Parks in both Tuam, and Ballinasloe. Furthermore, in order to cater for the specialised high utility intensive needs of the Biotechnology and ICT sectors, IDA Ireland is in the process of developing, fully-serviced industrial sites with advance planning permission ranging in size from 200-500 acres throughout the country. In the West, these sites are located at Athenry and Oranmore.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits by the Industrial Development Authority to Athenry, County Galway and the initiatives undertaken to attract new industries to the town during 2006 and 2007; the cost of land purchase by the IDA in Athenry; the plans and development costs incurred on these lands to prepare for future job creation in the town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32905/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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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. I have been informed by the Agency that, there have been no site visits by potential investors to Athenry over the past two years. While IDA Ireland can and does encourage clients to visit particular locations, the final decision on where to visit or locate is taken in all cases by the clients.

In order to cater for the specialised high utility intensive needs of the Biotechnology and ICT sectors, IDA Ireland is in the process of developing a number of large scale, fully-serviced industrial sites throughout the country. In this connection IDA has purchased a site of 97ha (240 acres) which is located approximately 1km to the south west of Athenry. The purchase of the Athenry site is a significant part of IDA's plans to position the West of Ireland to be able to compete for global investment. IDA is currently preparing a major planning application for this site.

The site purchase was completed in December 2007 but for reasons of confidentiality and commercial sensitivity the purchase price of this land is not disclosed. The land was previously owned by Teagasc. When developed, this strategic site will be marketed by IDA to attract key capital intensive type clients in the Life Sciences, Biopharma, ICT or similarly related sectors.