Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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IDA’s regional property programme ensures the continued supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients of IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. The timely provision of appropriate, cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions to meet the needs of Multi-National Companies (MNCs) remains essential to winning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The 56-hectare site in Ballyadam, Carrigtwohill is part of IDA’s overall strategic land bank portfolio in Cork and is available to support FDI clients.

The site was historically designated as a strategic site for development of a large scale stand-alone industrial enterprise and was reserved for this purpose in the previous Local Area Plan. IDA Ireland acknowledged that this represented a constraint which precluded the consideration of any industrial or other employment generating development project on the lands at Ballyadam unless it was a stand-alone high quality industrial development which would occupy the entire site. Accordingly, the IDA made a formal submission in relation to an amendment to the Cobh Municipal District Draft Local Area Plan in the past to enable future flexible development of the lands. IDA Ireland supported the deletion of that restriction and the adoption of a more flexible specific objective for the subject lands at Ballyadam.

The site is adjacent to the N25 National Primary Route. The proximity of the site to the N25 and the planned provision of the Interchange are significant factors in enhancing the attractiveness of the site as a location for FDI projects.

I am assured that IDA Ireland is committed to the promotion of the lands at Ballyadam for development for employment generating uses consistent with its development brief. The amendment to the Local Area Plan affecting these lands with the omission of the constraint limiting their development to a stand-alone industrial user and the planned provision of the grade separated interchange on the N25 adjacent to/within the subject lands will serve to enhance the prospects of the realisation of that objective.

There has been significant property activity involving the site over recent years, which has included land discussions with Eirgrid to support the Celtic Interconnector project, engagement with Cork County Council on the proposed M25 upgrade and the associated potential land requirement to facilitate same. IDA Ireland has also been engaged on future proofing the land bank for development which included planning permission and completion of a new interim vehicular access to the site and internal road network within the site to support potential investment in advance of any upgrade to the N25 road network. This project included extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders including Cork County Council and various utility providers and is now complete.