Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
42. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the establishment of a regional IDA science and technology park or equivalent for Castlebar, County Mayo, to enhance the competitiveness of the county globally for inward investment and ensure balanced and sustainable job creation in the county (details supplied). [15691/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment my focus is to lead our country through the economic crisis that has been caused by the pandemic to get our businesses open and our people back to work. My Department, IDA Ireland and the other enterprise agencies under my remit are doing everything possible to support businesses and get people safely back to work, whether in Mayo or elsewhere.
IDA Ireland's results for the first six months of this year have demonstrated the particular resilience of our foreign direct investment (FDI) base. Despite the challenges we have faced this year - over 130 investments to date in 2020, which have the potential to create almost 10,000 jobs. Almost half of these new projects were secured for locations outside Dublin, with 53 investments from companies investing in Ireland for the first time.
Mayo has experienced year-on-year increases in employment by IDA client companies since 2013, with 108 net new jobs created in 2019. There are now 17 IDA client companies in the county employing nearly 5,000 people. Mayo is home to a number of particularly prominent multinationals - such as Allergan, Baxter Healthcare and Coca Cola - that continue to perform well.
As the Deputy notes in his question, the IDA's Business and Technology Park in Castlebar has also helped to attract FDI to the County. Last September, I had the honour of visiting this Business Park to attend the official opening of Fort Wayne Metals' new manufacturing facility, which will create more than 80 new jobs over the next five years. Whilst there are currently no plans in place to establish a new science and technology park in Castlebar, the IDA continues to review its property and land portfolio on an ongoing basis, in line with the strong emphasis it places on FDI in regional Ireland. Regional development, including for the West, will also again be at the heart of the forthcoming new IDA strategy and I will bring the Deputy's proposal to their attention.
