Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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313. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason for the selection of specific locations under the new property initiative outlined by Industrial Development Agency Ireland; the value of the planned investments; if further locations will be selected during 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1153/14]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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314. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to include County Mayo in the new property initiative outlined by the Industrial Development Agency Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1154/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together.

Under the Industrial Development Acts, the management of IDA Ireland’s property portfolio, including the provision of buildings for client companies, is a day to day operational matter for the Agency and not one in which I have a function. I am informed by IDA Ireland that the provision of property solutions by the Agency must be in line with the objectives set out in IDA Ireland’s strategy, “Horizon 2020”, which supports the winning of investments nationally across the targeted industry sectors. In order to boost regional development and win new business, IDA proposes to build advance facilities in the Regional Gateway locations identified, where gaps exist to meet FDI requirements.

As IDA Ireland’s property function is almost entirely self-financing, the proposed buildings will be funded directly by IDA on the basis of open market competitive tendering. I understand that the tender process is currently on-going. In the current economic climate coupled with the limited availability of funding for all capital projects, investment must be targeted to potential investment wins and associated job creation opportunities. I am informed by IDA Ireland that there are no plans at present to include Co Mayo in the recently announced property initiative. IDA Ireland has informed me that it will continue to assess the requirements in other regional locations on an ongoing basis. I should add that IDA Ireland has already invested in property solutions in Mayo (Castlebar, Westport and Ballina) and the Agency also partners with the private sector in the promotion of appropriate property solutions for FDI.