Vol. 493 No. 3
58 Mr. B. Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, to date in relation to the need to attract inward investment to County Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15943/98]
63 Mr. B. Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures, if any, which will be taken to attract inward investment to County Cavan; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of centres throughout the country need new employment opportunities; if a special effort will be made to create much needed employment in County Cavan in view of the difficulties Border counties have endured over the past 28 years; if she will instruct her Department and the industrial development agencies to undertake special promotional programmes to ensure that County Cavan will obtain inward investment at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15944/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 63 together.
In Cavan, an advance factory has been constructed on the new IDA site at Cavan town and the facility is being actively marketed to potential overseas investors. Over the past months, a number of IDA Ireland overseas executives have visited the new Industrial Park at Cavan to meet several of the local companies. These executives, based in IDA's US and European offices, are actively promoting the Cavan region. The IDA is encouraged by the positive responses it has received from the companies who have visited the area.
The issue of regional distribution continues to be a high priority for IDA Ireland, with companies based in large population centres being encouraged to locate part of their expansion projects in smaller regional locations. The current year should show continuing progress in this respect.
For 1998, IDA Ireland is favouring locations outside the larger urban centres in every way possible, including with higher grant levels, as appropriate; with the involvement of private sector investors, stimulating and supporting a major programme of modern advance factory construction at key locations; and working closely with local authorities to have quality sites available at priority locations for new industrial investment. However, the decision on where to locate rests solely with the overseas investors, based primarily on the competitiveness and general level of attractiveness of individual locations.
