Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2024
281. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide a timeline for the completion of the proposed IDA advance facilities planned for Drogheda, County Louth; if client companies have been identified to occupy the facilities; if any formal agreement has been entered into at this point; the nature of any agreements entered into in regard to the advance facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29446/24]
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 Multinational Companies (MNCs) remains essential to winning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
In the current IDA Strategy - Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021 – 2024 - IDA is progressing delivery of Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) in a number of regional locations including the Mid-East, specifically at IDA’s land bank in The Mell in Drogheda. The development of this land bank, including the design of the ABS, forms part of IDA’s long term strategic plans to position Drogheda and the wider Mid-East region to compete for FDI investment. At present, IDA is currently completing remedial infrastructural works at the site.
While the planning application for the Drogheda ABS has received a decision to grant, the IDA must now wait for the appeals period to conclude. Many factors impact on the delivery of construction projects including site identification, design, the planning process, procurement and a variety of macro-economic factors. It is not possible to confirm when construction will commence on the Drogheda ABS in the absence of this final planning decision. However, upon receipt of planning permission IDA can then commence the next phase for delivery of same which includes a public procurement process for the appointment of an appropriate contractor and is subject to IDA Board approval.
Currently, there is no client identified for this building.
