The attraction of industry to particular counties is a day to day matter for the industrial development agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, and not one in which I have a direct function.
The Government is committed to ensuring the most equitable distribution of job opportunities. The development agencies are now strongly focused on achieving this aim and resources are being deployed to reflect this new focus. In this regard, the Border region, including the Cavan and Monaghan areas, is a particular priority location for promotional purposes by the agencies.
The agencies' focus on regionalisation ensures that an attractive financial package will be made available to any appropriate project which may choose to locate or expand in the area.
IDA Ireland as part of its new focus on the regions is seeking to deliver over 50% of all newly approved greenfield jobs to the objective one region, which includes Cavan and Monaghan. This compares with c.25% of projects which were being brought to this region in the past.
As a direct result of this increased marketing focus, there is a strong flow of potential clients visiting the advance factory available in Cavan. IDA Ireland's objective is to secure a client for this facility at the earliest possible stage. Planning permission is also being sought for the construction of an advance factory in Monaghan and, pending satisfactory approval, negotiations will commence with developers in the near future. The availability of such facilities is essential to the attraction of industry to the area.