Written answers

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Regional Development

Photo of Eoghan KennyEoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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879. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update as of July 2025 on the programme for Government commitment to work with IDA Ireland to target at least half of IDA investments outside of Dublin and expand our network of advanced manufacturing facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41004/25]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Regional Development is a key focus in our Programme for Government and the work of my Department and our Enterprise Development Agencies. In that regard, regional development is a strategic imperative for the IDA Ireland and the Agency partners with client companies and key stakeholders in all regions in pursuit of its objective to maximise regional opportunities.

A total of 973 investments were won by IDA during the lifetime of its 2021-2024 strategy, 54% of which went to regional locations. Moreover, in 2024, 137 of a total of 234 investments - or 59% - were outside Dublin. IDA Ireland’s regional strategy has a proven track record of success, and the agency is committed to building on this in the years ahead.

In that regard, IDA Ireland is targeting 550 of a total target of 1,000 investments under its new strategy - Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29 - to regional locations. This ambitious target reflects IDA Ireland’s ongoing commitment to support transformation and growth in the regions. In their mid-year results published on 2nd July 2025, the IDA announced 179 investments in the first half of this year and I am happy to confirm that of this figure, 91 investments - more than half - went to regional locations.

The availability of property and infrastructure solutions can be a key factor in investment decisions and a robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be the key differentiator in winning FDI projects. In this regard, a key objective of the IDA regional property programme remains to deliver agile, sustainable, flexible property solutions providing certainty to clients in advance of demand. This includes collaboration with Local Authorities on advance planning permits and investment in infrastructure projects across the portfolio to meet evolving business needs.

Over the duration of the IDA's last (2021-2024) strategy, 19 Advanced Building Solutions were progressed across 15 regional locations. Ten projects were completed during the programme in Monaghan, Sligo (2), Limerick (2), Dundalk, Waterford, Carlow, Athlone, and Galway.

IDA’s Regional Property Programme 2025-2029 will consist of 23 projects across 21 locations in 8 regions and primarily manufacturing buildings and this will include 12 new buildings delivered throughout the country as well as 11 Advance Planning Permits over the period to 2027. Over the next five years, IDA will aim to complete 6 buildings currently under construction, in planning or procurement stages including Cavan, Letterkenny, Drogheda, Mullingar, Longford, and Castlebar. Additionally, 6 new builds will commence in Dundalk, Limerick, Athlone, Sligo, Galway, and Waterford. All are, of course, subject to successful, planning and procurement phases. IDA will also partner with local authorities and will deliver 9 Advance Planning Permits in Letterkenny, Mayo, Tullamore, Mullingar, Kilkenny, Navan, Portlaoise, Tralee and Roscommon and reinstatement of the 2 expired permits in Ballinasloe and Carrick on Shannon. A total of 11 partnership projects will be undertaken.

Given IDA’s clear focus on sustainability, the proposed Regional Building Programme will maintain a minimum US Green Building Council Shell & Core LEED accredited target objective for all newly constructed IDA buildings. Where appropriate, however, following extensive market engagement, IDA’s Property Department also proposes, as an overarching ambitious principle, to adopt building designs capable of achieving a high level of carbon management.

IDA will also continue acquiring land and providing infrastructure to support clients across the portfolio of business & technology parks and strategic sites nationally.

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