Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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59. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on IDA activity in Kilkenny and Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62043/25]

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.

The South-East has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services, Engineering & Industrial Technologies, which are complemented by research centres that help win new business and assist existing client companies with transformation. The FDI performance in the region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing by 15%. To support the South-East region, IDA Ireland operates an office in the city of Waterford, working closely with local stakeholders, including City and County Councils, to attract new investment across the region which includes Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford.

As the Deputy is aware, 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, through its Regional Property Programme aims to address regional market failure through investment in land, buildings and essential infrastructure in regional locations as required by current and prospective clients of IDA as well as those of Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.

IDA Ireland also continues to maintain a focus on land-banks and strategic sites to future proof the ability of the property portfolio to support the project pipeline, and on that basis actively engages with local authorities including Kilkenny and Carlow County Councils, consultants, agents, utility providers and with the private sector in the South-East region in the marketing of appropriate and cost-effective property solutions.

In Kilkenny, IDA Ireland has a Business & Technology Park in Loughboy, an Industrial Estate in Purcellsinch and a Strategic Site in Belview. In Carlow the IDA has lands in Carlow and Bagnelstown. As the Deputy will know, IDA has made a significant investment in Carlow during their last strategy, 2021-2024, with the completion of an ABS - or Advanced Business Solution - in the business park, which is actively being marketed.

There continues to be good interest in companies visiting both Carlow and Kilkenny. There has been a consistent increase in visits since 2022. Details of site visits to Carlow and Kilkenny up to the first half of 2025 are shown in the table below:

With a clear focus on regional development, a strong pipeline of investment, and collaborative local partnerships, IDA Ireland is positioning Kilkenny and Carlow and the wider the South-East Region as a competitive and attractive destination for global investors, however, ultimately, individual companies determine where to locate their investments rather than the IDA.