Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts being made by her Department in conjunction with the Industrial Development Authority to secure tenants for a technology park in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10054/09]

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 issues of the nature raised here.

I am informed by IDA Ireland that it actively promotes Fermoy Business & Technology Park as part of a bid to secure valuable investment for the North Cork area. IDA strives to attract companies to North Cork across the full range of IDA targeted sectors, such as Pharmaceuticals, Medical Technologies, Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Internationally Traded Services via its network of overseas offices and project divisions.

Fermoy's attractiveness as a location for inward investment has been greatly enhanced by the opening of the bypass, which has improved accessibility to Cork city and its airport. IDA Ireland has approximately 6 hectares available on the Park. Works have been carried out to progress the development of the park. IDA has carried out master planning of the park, landscaped the entrance area and submitted and received planning permission for an advanced technology unit. This would thereby potentially facilitate a smooth planning application by a client interested in locating in the park. A site in the park has been acquired by an Enterprise Ireland client, whose intention it is to establish Headquarters in the park.