Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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566.To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the work of the IDA in County Louth in the past 12 months, including the work done to try to prevent job losses at IDA companies in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32376/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Regional development is a key element of Government's enterprise policy, as set out in the White Paper on Enterprise, and is a key focus of the work of my Department and our Agencies. In that regard, IDA Ireland is targeting at least half of all investments to regional locations.

There are currently 118 IDA supported multinational companies operating in the Mid-East, directly employing 20,429 people. The FDI performance in the region has been consistent over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 14%. In this regard, IDA Ireland supports opportunities for sustainable growth amongst its client base through a focus on transformative investments in RD&I, digitalisation, training, and actions on sustainability to increase the competitiveness and productivity of Irish operations and their workforce.

Insofar as Co. Louth is concerned, the IDA has continued to be actively engaged with both existing companies and potential investors in the county over the past year. This engagement has focused on supporting existing businesses, attracting new investments, and fostering an environment conducive to economic growth and job creation and there are currently 36 IDA supported companies in County Louth. Moreover, over the past 10 years, the number of people directly employed by IDA supported companies in Louth has grown from 3,427 in 2014 to 3,674 in 2023. This growth is attributed to investments and expansions by various companies, such as Pentagon Technologies, ABB, Kaseya, WuXi, Almac, PCI Pharma Services, Amazon Web Services, and Simply NUC, which have bolstered job creation and economic development in the County.

Earlier this year Pentagon Technologies announced that it is establishing a new precision parts cleaning facility in Dundalk with approximately 100 manufacturing jobs. In 2023, ABB opened an R&D centre in Dundalk creating 30 research, engineering and sales jobs. In 2022, PCI Pharma Services launched a new high containment packaging facility in Drogheda providing 70 new jobs, Panasonic Avionics announced an expansion in Dundalk, with an additional 30 jobs and Kaseya, a US IT management and security software company, announced plans to establish a new Centre of Excellence in Dundalk with the creation of 250 jobs over three years.

These successes follow a number of other investments in the county in recent years including Simply NUC, a Texas-based systems integrator specializing in mini PCs, in Dunleer and a significant investment by WuXi Vaccines in a vaccine production facility, creating 200 jobs and a biologics contract manufacturing facility creating 600 jobs. These investments highlight IDA Ireland's commitment to fostering economic development in County Louth, creating job opportunities, and supporting the growth of key industries in the region.

IDA Ireland's ongoing efforts in County Louth also include the delivery of buildings and other land and infrastructure improvements under IDA’s Regional Property Programme. The Regional Property Programme delivered an Advanced Office Building at IDA Finnabair Business Park in Dundalk in 2019 and an Advanced Building Solution (ABS) at IDA Mullagharlin Science & Technology Park in Dundalk in 2022. IDA has also acquired c.47 hectares of enterprise development lands in Dundalk, and c. 37 hectares of enterprise development lands at the Mell in Drogheda, Co Louth in 2021. At present IDA is currently completing infrastructure upgrade works at the site and has lodged a planning application with Louth County Council for a c. 4,737 m² ABS.

IDA also continues to work closely with the private sector to secure building and property solutions for client companies and works closely with local stakeholders and industry groups to create a supportive ecosystem for FDI. This collaboration helps to ensure that regional investments can access the necessary skills, research capabilities, and business networks.

I am, of course, equally conscious of the recent announcement from Becton Dickinson that it is to close its Drogheda facility over the next two and half years, which is extremely disappointing, especially for the staff and their families impacted by the decision. In this regard, I can assure the Deputy that Government is on hand to support those employees as they seek alternative employment. IDA Ireland has regularly engaged with BD on potential supports to its four Irish sites, including Drogheda. In particular, supports for staff training and upskilling were outlined, along with sustainability and decarbonisation initiatives. Furthermore, upon being notified of the BD Board decision, IDA reaffirmed the supports available and the IDA is committed to work with BD over the course of the next 2.5 years to market the Drogheda site to potential new FDI investors. The IDA will also be highlighting the skills of impacted employees with other employers in the Region, as there are a number of IDA client companies in the North East who are actively recruiting at present.

As part of the Government's regional strategy, we will continue to target new investment for the North East region, with Drogheda and Dundalk designated as Regional Growth Centres in both the National Development Plan and Project Ireland 2040. Furthermore, as already mentioned, the IDA has added two landbanks in Drogheda and Dundalk to be marketed to potential future investors in the IDA and EI portfolios.