Written answers

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Foreign Direct Investment

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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100. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the IDA plans to provide property solutions in Drogheda, County Louth for potential foreign direct investment clients; if, as part of the five year strategy and capital development programme, the IDA plan to develop a new business park and advance facilities in the town with a particular reference to the northside of Drogheda in view of the fact the remaining IDA site at the Donore Road park will be occupied by a planned new data centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19398/20]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I am determined, together with the IDA, to attract further investment to Louth and the Border counties, as we seek to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. 

Whilst there are currently no plans in place by the IDA to construct advanced facilities in Drogheda, the Agency continues to review its property and land portfolio on an ongoing basis, in line with the strong emphasis it places on FDI in regional Ireland. In addition, the IDA continues to engage with local stakeholders in Drogheda and maintains an updated inventory of private sector greenfield sites zoned for development, available office accommodation and flexible working spaces. 

As the Deputy will be aware, as part of its Regional Property Programme (RPP) the IDA successfully constructed an Advanced Office Building at Finnabair Business Park in Dundalk last December and this facility is being actively marketed to prospective investors. Under the second phase of the RPP, construction is expected to begin on an Advanced Technology Building in Dundalk later this year.

This combination of private sector property offerings, along with the IDA’s land holdings, places Drogheda and County Louth in a competitive position to compete for mobile FDI. The Agency continues to draw the attention of existing and prospective investors to Drogheda through its network of offices in Ireland and overseas.

More broadly, Louth has experienced year-on-year increases in employment by IDA client companies since 2012, with 486 net new jobs created in 2019. There are now 29 IDA client companies in the county employing over 4,400 people. County Louth is also home to a number of prominent multinationals - such as PCI Pharma, Almac Group and Paypal - that continue to perform well.

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