Written answers

Thursday, 27 October 2022

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Enterprise Support Services

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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32. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the advance technology building for Tralee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53871/22]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The IDA’s property investment in the regions is aimed at supporting economic development and job creation across IDA’s, Enterprise Ireland and local LEO’s respective client base. It is crucial that the South-West region has a competitive, sustainable property offering to enable the attraction and retention of investment and jobs.

IDA Ireland is committed to building a new (second) Advanced Technology Building in Tralee. On the 6thof July 2022, IDA Ireland announced that it has signed Heads of Terms with Shannon Commercial Enterprises DAC to progress with the acquisition of the remaining lands at Kerry Technology Park, Tralee. Progress on this IDA land acquisition is ongoing.

IDA Ireland is proposing to identify a site within the land bank to accommodate the construction of an Advance Building Solution as announced as part of the IDA Strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024.

There are 218 IDA client companies in the South-West Region, employing 47,572 people. The FDI performance in the region has been consistent over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 25%. The South-West has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services and Engineering & Industrial Technologies.

IDA Ireland is targeting 118 investments for this region over the period of the current strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024. This significant investment by IDA Ireland in the South-West Region aims to future-proof the property offering in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the region and to Kerry in particular.

The completion of the building Tralee is dependent on completion of the various stages of site selection, design and a statutory planning process and subject to IDA Board approval. The specific dates for construction commencement are wholly dependent on and subject to the successful outcome of these processes. I am informed that IDA Ireland will use its best endeavours to deliver the building in a timely manner as per the strategy objectives.

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