Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
185. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will outline the importance of developing next generation sites, in line with the Programme for Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30439/26]
View answerForeign Direct Investment continues to be one of the key components of the Irish economy, and as Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, I am determined that Ireland remains a leading location for FDI. However, as I have said before, we will not win future FDI of scale on yesterday’s terms and we need a new vision, hence Government's Next Generation Sites (NGS) proposals. NGS will signal Ireland’s determination and ambition to compete for the next wave of international investment.
NGS are critical infrastructure projects aimed at providing certainty for investors wanting to establish a sizeable operation in Ireland, crucial in today’s fast-moving international environment, providing, pre-permitted, master-planned land banks with clear pathways to power, water, gas, and transport. These sites will be in the range of 500-1,000 acres each. By preparing these sites in advance, we reduce risk and accelerate decision-making for investors thereby enhancing Ireland’s FDI value proposition. I anticipate that there will be 3 NGS developed over the next 15 years, in the West, East and South of the country.
NGS represents a major step forward in Ireland’s enterprise strategy, designed to ensure our country remains competitive in attracting large-scale, high-value manufacturing investments in sectors such as semiconductors, life sciences, and renewables. Global competition in these sectors has intensified and Ireland must offer certainty, speed, and scale to remain attractive particularly to strategically important mobile investment opportunities as well as providing options to any large indigenous investments. The sectors targeted by NGS provide quality and skilled employment, pay high salaries, and contribute to Ireland’s tax receipts.
I am pleased that Government has endorsed the approach to developing Next Generation Sites. This initiative is a key Programme for Government commitment and requires a whole-of-Government response. Delivery is underway on potential site identification, being led by IDA Ireland with my Department, and IDA Ireland will collaborate with other relevant Departments, Agencies and the associated planning, utilities and infrastructure providers over the coming period to deliver these sites. However, I am not at liberty to discuss individual locations at this time for commercially sensitive reasons.
