Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department and the IDA have endeavoured to attract sustainable aviation industries and new aviation industries relating to devices such as drones to County Clare. [6713/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Over the last three years, IDA Ireland has supported several initiatives and programmes in its aviation client base in Shannon. Government support has helped to retain employment as the impact of the global pandemic hit the global aviation industry and aviation-related companies in Shannon.

By targeting training and R&D, as well as other initiatives, through IDA Ireland the Government has helped to retain the competitiveness of the aviation industry in Shannon and across Ireland.

Despite the devastation of the pandemic to the international travel industry, IDA has continued to market Shannon and the Mid-West for aviation-related activities. In recent months, as the global industry returns to some measure of normality, a number of these client companies have again begun to actively recruit and have seen an upturn in revenues.

In 2021, the Irish Aviation Authority in conjunction with the Future Mobility Campus Ireland initiative opened a dedicated flight test corridor in Shannon, Co. Clare. This initiative will help us to better understand the operation of drones near commercial airspace.

Additionally, Fedex, in conjunction with SkyPort, are currently testing business-to-business cargo deliveries from their Shannon Airport air-freight logistics hub to customers in Foynes in Limerick.

IDA Ireland anticipates a positive future for the industry and has welcomed several new initiatives in the Clare and Shannon areas. Should current market trends continue to improve globally, the future of the Shannon cluster looks positive, and IDA looks forward to supporting new activities and client companies in the months to come.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of establishing a further IDA facility and development of lands at a location (details supplied) in County Mayo; the status of the three projects; the delivery timelines of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6999/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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.

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 owns approximately 10.6 hectares of industrial zoned land on the Sligo Road in Quignashee, Ballina. IDA Ireland continues to market the site to existing and prospective investors that may be interested in expanding or locating in County Mayo.

I am informed that the Agency will continue work with Mayo County Council to ensure the infrastructure development will be complementary to the wider development plans for Ballina and that the site, once developed will be positioned and marketed as a suitable location for indigenous and FDI developments. In December 2021 IDA lodged a phase 1 infrastructure planning application on its lands in Ballina.

Despite the success of IDA Property Programme, the programme alone cannot meet the needs of enterprise across every region. The Agency continues to work with regional stakeholders and the private sector on opportunities to add to the supply of competitive land and property solutions in regional locations, including lands at Cloonagh, Castlebar.

IDA continues to engage and collaborate with Mayo County Council on suitable land and property opportunities in Castlebar and these discussions are ongoing.