Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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96. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the IDA will consider the feasibility of Clare Technology Park , Gort Road, Ennis, County Clare as a location in the next phase of planning and development of technological buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39254/20]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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My priority is to lead our country through the economic crisis that has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. My Department, and the enterprise agencies under my remit, are doing everything possible to sustain businesses and get our people safely back to work in all parts of our country.

In recent years, Clare has witnessed a significant improvement in terms of attracting FDI with a 15% increase in employment in overseas companies since 2012. This has added almost 1,000 net new jobs during this period. There are now over 7,100 people employed across 67 multinational companies in Clare with over 220 net new jobs added in 2019. There have been investments of scale in the technology, med tech and pharma sectors, from companies like Beckman Coulter, Edwards Lifesciences, Extreme Networks, Jaguar Land Rover and in recent months Exida and MeiraGTx.

The Mid-West region is supported by the IDA with the provision of Advance Building Solutions which assist employment in the surrounding areas. IDA actively engages with Clare County Council, Shannon Commercial Properties and other property owners and stakeholders on their development plans, and markets sites and property solutions across the Mid-West region including Ennis through its extensive overseas network to both existing and new investors.

The IDA’s property budget for 2021 will continue to fund the IDA Regional Property Programme. This will help ensure that property solutions are in place for overseas companies considering investing or expanding outside of Dublin, thereby helping to attract more overseas firms to the regions. The IDA’s 2021 allocation includes an additional €10m over 2020 funding for the Regional Property Programme, bringing it up to €52m.

The Clare region is well positioned to continue to attract new FDI investment and grow employment in existing companies and IDA Ireland will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders and parties in the region to achieve this objective under the Regional Enterprise Action Plan 2020. The Clare Technology Park, Gort Road, Ennis is not currently under consideration by IDA as a site for an Advanced Building Solution.