Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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86. To ask the Taoiseach the number of visits organised by the IDA to the midland region to date in 2017; the number of these visits that were to IDA sites in Athlone and Mullingar, respectively; the details of all vacant property owned by the IDA in Mullingar and Athlone, County Westmeath; if the IDA has planned other visits to Mullingar before 31 December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50894/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland markets Mullingar and Athlone as part of the Midlands Region, which includes three other counties: Longford, Laois and Offaly. There are 30 multinational companies based in the region, employing 4,280 people across all four counties. County Westmeath has a strong base of foreign direct investment (FDI) with 13 companies employing 2,571 people.

The Agency is determined to increase those numbers and it has appointed a dedicated Regional Manager to the region to further aid its efforts to grow investment in the wider area.

To the end of the third quarter this year there have been 47 site visits to the Midlands. The IDA does not provide details on the specific locations visited by clients, however, on account of commercial sensitivity. It should also be noted that whilst site visits can be a useful indicator of new investment interest, they are not necessarily indicative of the potential for FDI in an area. I would point out, in this regard, that almost 70% of investment comes from existing IDA clients.

In terms of property available for marketing to potential investors, there is a 22.5 hectare IDA Ireland business and technology park located in Marlinstown, Co Westmeath. The park is fully zoned and serviced and is currently home to one IDA client company, an engineering and industrial firm which employs approximately 40 people at the site.

The IDA is also investing directly in property solutions for FDI in the Midlands and has received planning permission for one office building in Athlone, which should be ready for occupation in 2018. This is in addition to an advanced technology building which is now occupied by a pharmaceutical company.

The table provides full details of the buildings available for marketing in both Mullingar and Athlone.