Vol. 511 No. 5
44 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps, if any, she has taken to ensure inward investment to counties Monaghan and Cavan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24702/99]
The attraction of inward investment to particular counties is a day to day matter for IDA Ireland and not one in which I have a direct function. I am arranging for IDA Ireland to advise the Deputy of its specific activities in promoting inward investment to the Monaghan and Cavan areas.
There is now a greater emphasis by the industrial development agencies on the regional dispersal of investment projects. The Border region, including the Monaghan and Cavan areas, is a particular priority location for promotional purposes by IDA Ireland.
IDA Ireland's focus on regionalisation in general, and on Border counties in particular, reflects the Governments commitment in this regard and ensures that maximum grant support will be made available to any appropriate project which may choose to locate in the area.
Earlier this year I met with a delegation from Cavan County Council, including Cavan Oireachtas members, to specifically address the need for inward investment to Cavan. Representatives from IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland attended this meeting also. I emphasised the Government's desire to see substantial levels of increased investment into the Border area in general and I reiterated my commitment to ensuring that the agencies under my remit will remain closely focused on this. IDA Ireland as part of its new focus on the regions is seeking to deliver more than 50 per cent of all newly approved greenfield jobs to the Objective 1 region, which includes Monaghan and Cavan. This compares with 25 per cent of projects which were being brought to this region in the past.
