Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

198. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made with the identification of the nine advance sites-factories in the different regions, since the announcement some time ago, with particular reference to the County Carlow area; if the vacant Braun site in the town of Carlow will be considered for future use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17895/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

At the launch of the Regional Action plan for Jobs in February this year, the Government announced that an additional €150m over 5 years would be made available to IDA Ireland for a capital investment programme to help attract more multinational investment and jobs into each region.

The programme will build on the recent investment by IDA Ireland in facilities in Athlone and Waterford and will include investments over the coming years in construction of advance manufacturing and office facilities in Sligo, Tralee, Castlebar, Galway, Dundalk, Limerick, Athlone, Carlow and Waterford. Sligo, Tralee and Castlebar are to the forefront of the 2015 investment programme with others scheduled to follow in subsequent years. Galway, Dundalk and Limerick are earmarked for 2016, while Athlone, Carlow and Waterford are earmarked for 2017. I am informed by IDA Ireland that the Agency has not yet identified a site for the future construction of the facility in Carlow but site options are under consideration.

I am informed that the Braun facility in Carlow was purchased by a private developer in early 2015. IDA Ireland has visited the facility with the developer to assess the plans for the future development of the site and has provided inputs on the marketability of the site for future FDI to Carlow. I understand that IDA will be in a position to actively market the site once minor upgrade works are completed. It is anticipated that these works will be completed by mid-year. In the meantime IDA Ireland has provided information on the facility to a number of potential clients, who are currently assessing Ireland as an investment location.

As the Deputy is aware, officials of my Department and its agencies are actively engaged with regional stakeholders in the development of individual Action Plans for each of the regions, including the South East Region, which will be published in the near future.