Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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213. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of site visits to Kerry (real and virtual) facilitated by the IDA in the first quarter of 2023 and separately, all of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18844/23]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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214. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the up-to-date position regarding the development of a second advance technology facility at Kerry Technology Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18845/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.

There are currently 17 IDA client companies employing 2,020 people located in Kerry and over the past 9 years there has been a 21% growth in the number of people employed by IDA client companies in Kerry.

In addition to the commitment to building a second Advanced Technology Building, in July 2022 IDA Ireland announced that it signed Heads of Terms with Shannon Commercial Enterprises DAC to progress with the acquisition of the remaining lands at Kerry Technology Park, Tralee.

The IDA’s property investment in the regions is aimed at supporting economic development and job creation across IDA’s, Enterprise Ireland's and local LEO’s respective client base. In that regard, it remains crucial that the South-West region has a competitive, sustainable property offering to enable the attraction and retention of investment and jobs.

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. In this regard, IDA Ireland is proposing to identify a site within the land bank to accommodate the construction of an advanced building solution as announced as part of the IDA Strategy "Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024". Securing planning permission and the construction of the building will take time and is subject to a number of complex design, planning and procurement processes.

Finally, IDA Ireland continues to engage with new and existing companies on promoting Ireland as a location for their business and the Agency will continue to position County Kerry for virtual and in-person site visits to prospective companies throughout 2023 and beyond. Over 2022 there were 13 site visits to Kerry, 10 Virtual & 3 in-person. Figures for Q1 2023 are currently being verified and will be available next month.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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215. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently employed by Central Pharma in the IDA advance technology facility at Kerry Technology Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18846/23]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, in 2018 Central Pharma took out a long-term lease on the Advanced Technology Building in Tralee. After some significant delays, I am informed that last year the company commenced business in Tralee providing warehousing for its first customers. However, the very latest information provided by the company is that they have one vacancy in Tralee since their previous employee left.

I am further advised that IDA Ireland continues to engage with Central Pharma in respect of this project. The company has advised the IDA that following the completion of a validation production process with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), the company's plans to cover the order pipeline for the Tralee site will begin later this year. The company further advises that teams will be assembled dependant on order volume and will initially start with the team covering business development, quality, production, warehouse and facilities.