John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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441. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he can confirm the future use of IDA lands (details supplied) with Cork County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61167/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Regional Development is a key focus of our Programme for Government and is central to the work of my Department and our enterprise development agencies. In this regard, Regional Development is one of four key strategic objectives of the IDA 2025–2029 strategy, "Adapt Intelligently" with a commitment to secure 550 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects outside Dublin - 55% of all planned investments. Additionally, the overarching goal is to create 75,000 new jobs nationwide and generate a projected €250 billion in economic impact with the IDA having set ambitious targets for every region in Ireland.

Further, a robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be the key differentiator in winning FDI projects. The availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and to the winning of investments into the regions from both new name clients and from the existing client base. IDA Ireland’s property strategy aims to address regional market failure through investment in enterprise-focused property solutions that meet the needs of multinational companies and indigenous clients in support of winning investments.

IDA Ireland also partners with Local Authorities for the delivery of advance planning permits in regional locations as well as investing in significant infrastructure projects across its portfolio of Business and Technology Parks responding to evolving company needs. Furthermore, IDA Ireland maintains a focus on acquisition of new landbanks and strategic sites to future proof the ability of the property portfolio in regional locations to support the project pipeline.

This targeted forward planning is vital to provide certainty and ensure Ireland has a competitive offering that meets the evolving needs of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland clients. Currently, there are IDA client operations in twenty locations, including Kanturk, across Cork County highlighting the positive impact of FDI and how it is spread across the county. The IDA Industrial Estate, Pulleen, Kanturk, Co. Cork, which the Deputy refers to, is maintained as part of IDA Ireland’s property portfolio and is available to accommodate investment and development by IDA and indigenous industries. The remaining 2.37 hectares are marketed to suitable qualifying client companies, and the lands are serviced to accommodate both manufacturing and office-based industries as required. This estate is part of IDA’s overall strategic land bank portfolio in Cork offering greenfield sites to suit both manufacturing and international services clients, in a landscaped and serviced environment and is available to support IDA and Enterprise Ireland clients with appropriate services in place to accommodate same.

Overall, there are over 280 hectares of lands available for marketing to IDA and EI clients in Cork. The presence of strategic landbanks in several locations in Cork positions the greater Cork area for new Greenfield opportunities, which will benefit Cork city and county and the wider South-West region.

IDA Ireland continues to engage with key stakeholders and Local Authorities, including Cork County Council to ensure the identification of lands that are suitable for client investment in the long term. Regular meetings are held with respect to further understanding the IDA client base land requirements and the viability of appropriate zoning of suitable lands to ensure readiness for inward client investment across all activities and sectors as they arise.

Finally, I might note that ultimately individual companies determine where to locate their investments rather than the IDA but, to that end, the IDA markets all sites, including Kanturk, to best advantage.