I have received a request from the director of community and enterprise in County Offaly to meet a delegation to discuss the economic situation in County Offaly and I will be responding to this request shortly.
The Border, midlands and west region, of which County Offaly is part, is a priority location for job promotion by the industrial development agencies. IDA Ireland has had considerable success in attracting projects to Tullamore in recent years. Since September 1998, three significant projects were approved for Tullamore. Current employment in these projects is circa 480.
In 2000, there were 18 site visits by IDA clients to Tullamore and 11 site visits to Birr. There have been six site visits by IDA clients to Tullamore and one site visit to the newly constructed advance factory in Birr to date in 2001. IDA Ireland is hopeful of securing projects for both facilities this year.
IDA Ireland has secured agreement with the owners of the Lowe Alpine facility in Tullamore, that is to cease production this month, to market it for an inwards investment project. Also, with the announcement of the downsizing of the Snickers operation and its relocation to a smaller building, IDA Ireland is in the process of producing a marketing brochure to promote the facility for inwards investment.
Enterprise Ireland will also continue to actively promote the Tullamore area as a location for new projects.
