Dick Spring
Question:155 Mr. Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her proposals in relation to the development of the Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank, County Kerry. [27865/01]
Vol. 543 No. 5
155 Mr. Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her proposals in relation to the development of the Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank, County Kerry. [27865/01]
171 Mr. Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of meetings she has had in relation to developing the site of the Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank; the persons she has met; and the results of those meetings. [27859/01]
172 Mr. Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the grant aid available from her Department or agencies under the aegis of her Department for the development of infrastructure or services for the Tarbert-Ballylongford area. [27860/01]
173 Mr. Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether there is a prospect of industry locating at the Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank in the near future. [27861/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 171 to 173, inclusive, together.
The promotion and development of the Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank is an operational matter for Shannon Development and not a matter in which I as Minister would have any function. As such, I have not had any meetings with Shannon Development or any other bodies or individuals in relation to the development of the landbank
In relation to grants or other financial incentives available, Ballylongford does not enjoy any special tax designation or tax based incentive and the normal support incentives provided by the Government agencies would be available to any project deemed to be eligible for support. The particular categories through which grant aid might be made available, for example, R&D, training, management development, etc. depends entirely on the nature of the project in question, so it is not possible to say what particular categories would be most commonly used. It follows also that the grant costs per job would be in line with the norms for the particular industry sector involved.
Although a number of proposals have been advanced over the years regarding the development of the Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank, none has resulted in any development taking place to date. Any proposal for the development of the Tarbert-Ballylongford landbank would, as I have said, be a matter for the board of Shannon Development in the first instance.