Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

163. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of land owned by the IDA in hectares by county; the amount of IDA land available for development in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6273/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

IDA Ireland actively promotes available buildings and land in IDA Business Parks and high-quality buildings in private ownership through their network of overseas offices.

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 table below details land owned by IDA Ireland including the amount of marketable land available by Hectare and by County.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

164. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made by the strategic property division of the IDA on delivering an IDA land bank and utility intensive strategic site to future-proof its property portfolio in Castlebar, County Mayo and to support the delivery of the advanced building solution by 2024; the engagement that has been undertaken with Mayo County Council to develop infrastructure to access a suitable site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6311/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The timely provision of appropriate, innovative, and cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions that meets the needs of MNCs remains essential to winning FDI. IDA Ireland’s regional property programme aims to ensure availability of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations for current and prospective clients of both IDA and Enterprise Ireland. Over the last 5 years, IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme has enabled the winning of capital-intensive projects of significant scale to regional locations.

Under their new strategy, “Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024” IDA Ireland is targeting the delivery of 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) to regional locations, including a second Advanced Building Solution in Castlebar. I am advised that the Agency has commenced the process of evaluating suitable site options in Castlebar and is engaging with local stakeholders including Mayo County Council as part of this process. I am not in a position to provide further detail at this point.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

165. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of e-visits or in-person visits the IDA made to County Kerry during 2021; the number of planned visits for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6420/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

IDA Ireland staff across the globe are conscious of the importance and impact of winning investments to locations such as Kerry and other regional locations. The Agency has been operating in a very challenging environment over the past 20 months with little or no international travel globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IDA has been operating virtually and hosting companies on virtual site visits with some successes during this time.

IDA Ireland is committed to winning opportunities for Kerry. Of the 400 investments targeted for outside of Dublin over the life of IDA Ireland's Strategy 2021-2024, the South West Region (Kerry and Cork) has the largest target of any region outside Dublin, with 118 investments.

IDA Ireland have publicly committed to build a new (second) Advance Technology Building in Tralee to support winning a new office or industrial investment given the flexible nature of IDA building solutions. The site selection process is underway on this and while it will take time to secure planning permission and construct the building, it is a strong statement of continued commitment to Kerry to support the winning of new investments. It is intended that this building solution will be delivered during the life of the current IDA Strategy 2021-2024.

In addition, there is a strong focus on supporting existing companies to minimise downsizings or closures. While some industry sectors are performing well, others have been impacted significantly because of the pandemic and/or a downturn on certain markets served by IDA client companies.

IDA continues to engage with new companies on promoting Ireland as a location for their business utilising virtual site visits as opposed to physically visiting the county. In 2021, IDA Ireland hosted one virtual site visit showcasing Kerry for a potential investment.

At the moment there are no planned visits for 2022. I am assured that IDA will return to hosting in person site visits in line with all public health guidelines and continue to position Kerry for these into 2022 and beyond.