Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the IDA's delivery of an advanced building solution for Castlebar; if a strategic land bank has been procured; when the advanced building solution will proceed to planning stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9225/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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IDA Ireland’s property investment programme is aimed at supporting economic development and job creation across IDA’s, Enterprise Ireland's and local LEO’s respective client base. The provision of property solutions is a key element in IDA’s marketing of Mayo and the West Region. In that regard, IDA, as part of the Regional Property Programme, has delivered an advance technology building to Castlebar which has been occupied by Meissner Filtration Products (announcing 150 jobs in 2019) with a second advance building solution due to be delivered.

It is essential that the West Region and Mayo has a competitive, sustainable property offering to enable the attraction and retention of investment and jobs. IDA Ireland have publicly committed to build a new, second, Advance Technology Building in Castlebar to support the winning of new investment and job creation. The site selection process for the new building is well underway and on conclusion of site selection, the design and planning phases will commence. The specific dates for commencement of construction are wholly dependent on, and subject to, the successful outcome of these processes. IDA will use its best endeavours to deliver the building in a timely manner. IDA Ireland has had regular engagement with Mayo County Council on its plans.

IDA continues to work with regional stakeholders and the private sector on opportunities to add to the supply of competitive property solutions in regional locations.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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134. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on the development of the new IDA site in Drogheda; when it will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9002/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The timely provision of appropriate, cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions to meet the needs of Multi-National Corporations, or MNCs, remains essential to winning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Recognising that a robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be the key differentiator in winning FDI projects, IDA’s regional property programme, supported by my Department, ensures the continued supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients.

In 2021, IDA Ireland acquired a new landbank at the Mell in Drogheda, Co Louth. This landbank will form part of IDA’s long term strategic plans to position Drogheda and the wider Mid-East region to compete for FDI investment. Since acquiring the landbank, IDA has undertaken an infrastructure review with respect to servicing considerations and how to best position the landbank to potential FDI investment opportunities. IDA are finalising the tender pack for the upgrade works which will go to public tender in Q2 this year.

IDA is committed to building an advanced building solution on the new lands as announced in their current Strategy "Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth". This building project is at concept review stage and a multi-disciplinary design team has been appointed by IDA and I am informed that this review is ongoing and progressing well.

Specifically, IDA Ireland and Louth County Council have agreed terms on the transfer of c.7 acres to IDA Ireland. This transfer is currently in a conveyancing process. When the transfer is complete, it will increase the IDA Ireland current land holding to c.46 Acres. IDA Ireland is pleased to have acquired these landbanks enhancing the offering in the Mid-East. IDA will continue to work with commercial property developers and Local Authorities to market other property solutions across all regions where they exist.

County Louth is home to 36 IDA Ireland client companies employing 4,485 people. In recent years, IDA Ireland supported companies including WUXI, Amazon Web Services Simply NUC, IT Renew, Panasonic Avionics and Becton Dickinson who have announced investments and expansions for Co. Louth.