Jimmy Deenihan
Question:52 Mr. Deenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the recent efforts made to encourage industry to Castleisland, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31983/01]
Written Answers. - Industrial Development.
My Department, and the industrial development agencies under its aegis, are acutely aware of the need to achieve a more equitable spread of industrial development across the regions than has been the case heretofore. In the midwest region, which includes north Kerry, IDA Ireland is the agency with responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment, working closely with Shannon Development. At present, there is an IDA Ireland-supported company in Castleisland – Aetna USA – which is a processing centre for evaluating and processing health insurance claims, and currently employs 74 people.
As well as combining with IDA Ireland in attracting foreign direct investment, Shannon Development also works with indigenous companies in the region. Shannon Development has five indigenous companies in Castleisland employing a total of 49 people as at December 2000. The company is currently finalising its examination of plans submitted by the Castleisland Development Association, in which they have applied for a certificate to develop an advance factory under the BES scheme in Castleisland industrial estate. The factory will be 1,237 sq.m. and will be available for promotion as a location for new indigenous industry or foreign direct investment. Shannon Development will be working closely with the group as the project comes on stream, and will also liaise with IDA who will have the premises on their available list of location options in north Kerry.
In addition to this specific initiative, Shannon Development's normal industry support programmes continue to be available to any initiatives emanating from, or seeking to locate in Castleisland and close contact is maintained with the Castelisland Development Association in this regard. On a general level, the recent development of Kerry Technological Park in Tralee will have positive results in terms of the entire north Kerry region. A key strategy being put in place by Shannon Development is that a number of outreach programmes and satellite centres will feed in or benefit from the work that will take place in Kerry Technological Park.