Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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942. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress to date on developing strategic development zones to support regional enterprise and investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43341/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government includes a commitment to considering the development of economic Strategic Development Zones (SDZs) in the regions. This commitment is one element of the broader work in relation to the planning system in my Department, including its contributions to the recently published first revision of the National Planning Framework.

The consideration of regional economic SDZs takes place in the context of the broader changes under way in planning. With the ongoing implementation of the Planning and Development Act 2024, the planning system is currently undergoing substantial change. The Act is being commenced on a phased basis to facilitate the transition from the arrangements in place under the previous Planning and Development Act 2000 to those under the new legislative framework.

While the new Planning and Development Act does not include provisions for the creation of SDZs as they were under the 2000 Act, it introduces Urban Development Zones (UDZs). UDZs, like SDZs before them, give local authorities the ability to identify strategic lands for which development would be of significant economic, social and environmental benefit to the State.

In terms of actions under way, my Department is supporting the delivery of a roadmap to develop the Ireland West Airport (IWA) SDZ at Knock. This is a purely economic SDZ connected to a critical piece of enterprise enabling infrastructure for the region. The SDZ designation has the potential to significantly enhance the airport’s role as a driver of regional economic development. The vision for the IWA SDZ is of a dynamic regional airport and business campus that grows and promotes its established travel and tourism sectors in tandem with a business and enterprise hub. This practical work will inform the broader consideration in relation to economic SDZs in the regions.

My officials are also working with our enterprise agencies IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to interrogate the needs of enterprise in terms of planning and development around the country, which will feed into consideration of the need for economic SDZs in the regions. My Department will continue to examine the issue in consultation with the key actors in the planning system over the coming months.