Written answers

Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation

Industrial Development

9:00 pm

Photo of Michelle MulherinMichelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the Industrial Development Agency plans for the development of a technology park at its site on the Sligo Road, Ballina, County Mayo; his plans to attract a significant employer to the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22818/11]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The management of IDA's property portfolio including the development of Business & Technology Parks is a day to day operational matter for the Agency and not one in which I have a function.

I am informed by IDA that, in 2008, it acquired approximately 11 hectares of industrial zoned land on the Sligo Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo for the development of a Business & Technology Park. Perimeter landscaping works on the site have been completed. Capital works for a new park entrance, access road and associated services were also planned, but due to current budgetary constraints these works have not yet taken place. IDA's Strategy "Horizon 2020 ", which was published in March 2010, sets a key goal of attracting 50% of investments to Gateway locations excluding Dublin and Cork by 2014.

However, the challenge in achieving an even spread of investment across the country is intensified as the sophistication of investments increase. These investments require a concentration of highly qualified and educated workers, supporting infrastructure and high level business services. Frequently, competition for FDI comes from city

regions with populations in excess of one million people. Dublin is the only recognised city region of scale in Ireland.

In selecting locations to show companies, IDA Ireland seeks to include locations which have been affected by closures/job losses. Typically, a company is shown three or four selected towns, which can meet its requirements for skills, labour, site and/or buildings, infrastructure, etc. The lands in Ballina are available to any potential client company and while IDA Ireland seeks to influence the selection of location, the final decision on which location a company will visit and locate in is made by the promoting company.

There are 18 IDA client companies in Mayo employing 3,500 people of which 5 are located in Ballina; Hollister, Ballina Beverages (Coca Cola), Charles River Laboratories, Heyco and Lionbridge.

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