Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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94. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the proposed industrial park for Ballina, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60791/21]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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IDA Ireland actively promotes available buildings and land in IDA Business Parks and high-quality buildings in private ownership to potential investors through their network of overseas offices. The IDA owns 10.6 hectares of industrial zoned land on the Sligo Road in Quignashee, Ballina. The Agency is working in collaboration with Mayo County Council to review the best potential for this land to further support the objectives of IDA’s new strategy 2021-2024.

Planning permission was previously obtained for infrastructural development on the site, although this has since expired. I am advised that IDA Ireland is at the final stages of completing its new planning application. A number of external factors delayed the submission of the application in Q3 as originally intended, namely Covid-19 restrictions for geotechnical site surveys and data analysis required to finalise the application details. IDA Ireland is awaiting final confirmation of feasibility in relation to infrastructure and utilities to include in the planning application and it will lodge the planning application on receipt of same.

In the meantime, IDA Ireland continues to market the site to existing and prospective investors that may be interested in expanding or locating in County Mayo. More generally, the IDA is actively encouraging investors to locate in regional areas, whether through marketing potential investment sites outside of the main cities or working to develop recognised industry clusters.

The Government, in cooperation with the IDA, is determined to continue to win projects with significant social and economic benefits and will continue to work hard to make sure these benefits are spread as widely as possible across Ireland.