Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 November 2023
68. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on the masterplan for the IDA land bank in Killally, Dundalk; when he expects to see progress on this project and the long-term objectives of the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50264/23]
View answerRegional development is at the centre of IDA Ireland's strategy Driving Recovery & Sustainability 2021-2024 with IDA Ireland committed to the pursuit of balanced, compact regional development with the overall impact of helping to advance national development. The timely provision of appropriate, cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions to meet the needs of multinational companies remains essential to winning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). A robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be a key differentiator in winning FDI projects. IDA’s regional property programme ensures the continued supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office clients.
In June 2021, IDA Ireland acquired two landbanks in Co Louth. These land acquisitions, with a combined total of c.157 acres are situated in Drogheda and in Dundalk and form part of IDA’s long term strategic plan to position Louth and the wider region to compete for FDI investment. IDA Ireland has also recently delivered an Advanced Office Solution on their Finnabair Business Park and an Advanced Building Solution at Mullagharlin Science & Technology Park in Dundalk. The Agency also plans to commence the delivery of an Advanced Building Solution in Drogheda as part of the current strategy, 2021-2024.
The IDA landbank at Killally, Dundalk is part of a strategic acquisition for IDA as a long-term property solution to support future FDI and EI investments. The IDA is currently reviewing its overall strategy for development of these lands in line with potential longer term requirements for FDI to ensure maximum flexibility in the development of the landbank, aligned to this and future strategies.
The FDI performance in the Mid-East Region, which comprises counties Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, has been strong over the past five years with employment growing among IDA clients within the Engineering & Industrial Technologies, Medical Technologies, Technology, International Financial Services and Life Sciences sectors.
There are currently 113 IDA Ireland client companies in the Mid-East Region employing 21,861 people directly with an additional 17,489 indirect jobs being supported. IDA Ireland client employment in the region grew by 13% in 2022 with an additional 933 net jobs created. County Louth is home to 36 IDA Ireland client companies directly employing 4,485 people.
In recent years, IDA Ireland supported companies including Wuxi Biologics, Wuxi Vaccines, Becton Dickinson, Wasdell, Almac, IT Renew, Amazon Web Services and Simply NUC who have announced investments and expansions for Co. Louth and most recently Kaseya who set up operations in Dundalk on the Xerox Business Campus in Dundalk in 2022.
