Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022
83. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the efforts of the IDA to attract inward investment to counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18735/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCavan and Monaghan are included in the IDA Border Region (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, and Monaghan). IDA Ireland supports 67 client companies in this region who collectively directly employ 8,721 people.
The FDI performance in the region has been strong over the past five years with employment among IDA clients increasing within the Engineering & Industrial Technologies and Medical Technologies sectors, complemented by new investments from the Technology, International Financial Services and Life Sciences sectors. The most recent announced investment was in March 2022, California headquartered Ultra Clean Holdings Inc. announced that it is establishing an Advanced Technology Cleaning Centre in Cavan, which will create approximately 100 jobs when fully operational.
The existing base of IDA Client companies (8 in Cavan employing 862 and 8 Monaghan employing 430 people in 2021) enjoy strong collaborative links with several third level colleges including Dundalk Institute of Technology as well as the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and the Atlantic Technological University (ATU).
Key to the Border region’s success in the past and essential to its success in the future is strategic collaboration with national and local stakeholders on the enhancement of the regional value proposition for FDI. In this regard, the significant funding that Cavan and Monaghan have received under the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF) to date will add to the placemaking successes and the value proposition of both counties.
IDA Ireland has recently completed the construction of an Advance Building Solution in Monaghan which it is currently actively marketing to potential FDI clients and plans to deliver Advance Building Solutions in Letterkenny, Cavan, and Sligo over the period of the current strategy.
IDA Ireland will continue to build on the strengths and competencies of the Border region with a particular focus on opportunities arising in the sectors of Life Sciences, Technology and Services.
IDA will target 25 investments for the Border region in the period 2021 to 2024 and will continue to actively promote Cavan and Monaghan as part of the wider Border value proposition.
The objective will be to take advantage of emerging technologies and business models, including home and hub working.
IDA Ireland markets Meath as part of the Mid-East Region (Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, and Louth). There are 103 IDA client companies in the Mid-East Region, employing 18,894 people. Specifically, in 2021 there were 16 companies in Meath employing 1,911 people. The Mid-East has a significant ecosystem of well-established companies across Technology, Life Sciences, International Financial Services and Engineering & Industrial Technologies. It has also won significant investment in the Food and the Film sub-sectors.
Counties in the Mid-East also benefit hugely from the direct and indirect employment generated by IDA client companies located in Dublin. The region is strongly supported by third level education providers, including Maynooth University, Dundalk Institute of Technology, IT Carlow’s satellite campus in County Wicklow and Dunboyne College of Further Education.
The IDA will continue to market the Mid-East region drawing on existing assets, including property solutions and placemaking. IDA Ireland will focus on investment opportunities arising in services, high value manufacturing, and RD&I and will target 40 investments for the Mid-East region in the period 2021 to 2024.
IDA will deliver Advanced Building Solutions in Drogheda and Dundalk over 2021-2024. The Agency intends to partner with Meath County Council for the delivery of an advance planning permit for an Advanced Technology Building in Navan, Co. Meath to advance the location from an attractiveness perspective. Further upgrade works are designed and progressing on IDA Parks and the Agency plans to acquire additional strategic sites in the region for development.
IDA Ireland will continue to work with existing clients across these regions to retain and strengthen their presence through continued company transformation as well as pursuing new areas of opportunity for client companies, in addition to working closely with Enterprise Ireland and its indigenous base of companies to identify synergies, enhance clusters, participate in site visits, and maximise benefits for the regions.
