Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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226. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of finding a replacement industry following the closure of a manufacturing plant (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46193/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Finding a replacement industry for Carrickmacross remains a very high priority. I have been in regular contact with IDA Ireland to ensure that everything possible is being done to market the facility abroad through IDA’s network of overseas offices. I have also ensured that Enterprise Ireland is likewise marketing the facility to its client base. The premises are privately owned and leased by BOSE. Both the building itself and the skilled workforce already there are strong selling points.

IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland met with Monaghan County Council on 23 September to discuss the BOSE facility. A follow-up meeting will be held in the New Year to further discuss the matter. Both agencies will continue to work with Monaghan County Council on this issue.

Since the national Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012 more than 20,000 extra people are at work in the North East/North West region (a 12% increase), while 31,600 jobs were lost in the region in the period 2008 - 2011. Monaghan, like many other areas, has seen positive trends in recent years, with employment in agency-supported companies expanding by 11% and substantial improvement in the live register. However, I believe that more can be done. As part of the government’s €250m Regional Action Plan for Jobs, I recently launched the North East/North West Action Plan for jobs with a target to create 28,000 additional jobs throughout the North East/North West. The Plan focuses on maximising the strengths and assets of the region to support enterprise growth and job creation and to build on the progress that has already been made.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the status of attracting an industry-manufacturing facility to a location (details supplied) in County Cavan, given that all modern infrastructure facilities are provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46194/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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County Cavan is marketed as part of IDA’s North East Region which consists of 3 counties, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan. There are 36 multinational companies based in the North East, employing 4,440 across the Region, of which 7 companies are located in Cavan employing 1,136 people. The North East also has a vibrant cluster of Indigenous companies with 80 based in Cavan and employing 4,048 people.

Regional development is fundamental to IDA Ireland’s new strategy for the next five years, titled ‘Winning – Foreign Direct Investment 2015-2019’, which was launched earlier this year. For the first time, ambitious investment targets have been set for each region, with a strong focus on securing a significant uplift in the number of investments. Central to this is a driving ambition for employment growth throughout all regions over the lifetime of this strategy.

As part of IDA Ireland’s commitment to achieve a significant uplift in the amount of FDI projects going into regions, the strategy outlines key actions aimed at achieving that, including a €150m property investment plan, spread out over five years, which will support the achievement of the organisation's regional goals. The funding will be used to upgrade Ireland's business and technology parks, make investments in a number of strategic utility-intensive sites and build new advanced technology buildings in a number of regional locations.

Since the national Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012 more than 20,000 extra people are at work in the North East/North West region (a 12% increase). Cavan, like many other areas, has seen positive trends in recent years, with employment in agency-supported companies expanding and substantial improvement in the live register. However, I believe that more can be done. As part of the government’s €250m Regional Action Plan for Jobs, I recently launched the North East/North West Action Plan for jobs with a target to create 28,000 additional jobs throughout the North East/North West. The Plan focusses on maximising the strengths and assets of the region to support enterprise growth and job creation and to build on the progress that has already been made.

I am informed by IDA Ireland that the lands in Killygarry at the Business and Technology Park consists of approximately 17 hectares. The Park has direct access to the N3 that connects Cavan town to Dublin. There are currently approximately 11 hectares of serviced marketable land available on the park. The main tenant on the Park at present is ATA Group (an Enterprise Ireland client).

The Agency have assured me that they are happy to consider opportunities to utilise the Park to attract other non-traditional type investments into the region, investments which do not fall under the general remit of IDA Ireland or Enterprise Ireland but which could create investment and employment opportunities. These lands are currently zoned ‘Industrial & Employment’. Any non-traditional type interest in the IDA lands will be considered on a case by case basis and subject to IDA Ireland Board Approval and Ministerial Consent.