Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2023
35. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the planned IDA advance units development in Drogheda; when they will be available for use by client companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51447/23]
View answerIDA’s regional property programme ensures the continued supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients of IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. The timely provision of appropriate, cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions to meet the needs of Multi-National Companies (MNCs) remains essential to winning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
IDA Ireland holds a circa 19-hectare landbank at the Mell in Drogheda, Co Louth. This landbank forms part of IDA’s long term strategic plans to position Drogheda and the wider Mid-East region to compete for FDI investment.
IDA is committed to building an Advanced Building Solution (ABS) on the new lands. In this regard, I am advised that IDA Ireland has now formally lodged its planning application for its proposed ABS at Mell Drogheda. Subject to planning being granted, it is IDA's intention to then progress the process of identifying a suitable contractor in line with public procurement procedures to deliver the ABS.
Regional development is a key part of IDA Ireland's current strategy “Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024”. Under this Strategy, the IDA is targeting half of all investments to regional locations which aligns with the objectives of the Programme for Government as well as the Government's the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030.
Over the past years, IDA’s Regional Property Programme has enabled the winning of capital-intensive projects of significant scale to regional locations. IDA will continue to work with commercial property developers and Local Authorities to market other property solutions across all regions.
In this regard, the FDI performance in the Mid-East Region, which comprises counties Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow, has been strong with IDA Ireland client employment in the region growing by 13% in 2022. In recent years, IDA Ireland supported companies including WUXI, Wasdell, Almac, PCI Pharma Services, Amazon Web Services and Simply NUC who have announced investments and expansions for Co. Louth which has driven the demand for property solutions.
