Written Answers. - Business Parks.
John V. Farrelly
Question:
57
Mr. Farrelly
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of visits made by her officials to Navan business park for potential customers for the provision of jobs at this location in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24421/01]
John V. Farrelly
Question:
58
Mr. Farrelly
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she has taken to promote the Navan Business Park with her officials during overseas visits in pursuit of investment or trade here in the past 12 months; the reaction which has been received to these requests; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24422/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together.
The provision and management of industrial property, and the business of attracting industrial investment to particular locations are statutory functions of IDA Ireland and not ones in which I have direction function.
However, inquiries have been made with the agency and I understand there have been a number of itineraries arranged specifically to visit the IDA Ireland owned Navan Business Park over recent years, as detailed in the following table. However, it should also be noted that a considerable number of other overseas companies have viewed the Navan Business Park informally as part of broader itineraries, although it is not possible to put an accurate figure on these informal visits.
|
Year
|
Number of Visits
|
|
1998
|
4
|
|
1999
|
7
|
|
2000
|
4
|
|
2001 (to date)
|
3
|
I am informed by IDA Ireland that there has been a significant downturn in the number of itinerary visits to the east region in 2001. However, the projects which were forthcoming from the recent successful itinerary visits and which are now established in the Navan Business Park are evidence of IDA Ireland's commitment to the Navan area. These include the CNH Information Technology Centre which employs 64 people and plans to create 240 jobs over the next four years; Europe Assistance Holidays has been actively recruiting over the last few months and now employs approximately 80 people in a call centre and administration functions; Generali International, an Italian insurance company, currently employs 24 people; Plaut, a German software company, employs 21 people and plans to increase its workforce to 45 over the next four years; Pemstar has recruited 22 people in recent months and Welch Allyn Medical Devices has doubled its workforce to 50 people in the past 18 months and has also broadened its activities in Navan to include higher value customer support and product development work while maintaining the core manufacturing element of the business.
In addition to the above, IDA Ireland is continuing to develop the Navan Business Park. A 25,000 square foot advance factory has been designed and planning permission sought. The agency has also accepted proposals from a local consortium for the redevelopment of Athlumney House for 6,000 square foot of office, educational and administrative space, as well as 10,000 square feet of office space in the courtyard, for which a planning permission application has been lodged with Meath County Council.
As part of the Enterprise Ireland strategy for developing the regions, the agency maintains a profile of the infrastructure and facilities available in each region. The Navan Business Park is included in the Navan profile as a quality environment for modern industry and would be brought to the attention of any indigenous companies wishing to expand outside of Dublin city. However, there are currently no Enterprise Ireland companies located in the Navan Business Park.
In relation to my overseas visits, these involve the promotion of Ireland Inc. as an attractive location for inward investment and not specific individual locations, such as the Navan Business Park. Moreover, such visits are generally organised by Enterprise Ireland for the purpose of promoting trade between Irish companies and new markets overseas. In general, it is the companies themselves which would be participants in a trade mission rather than the business park as an entity. However, Enterprise Ireland canvasses widely prior to any planned trade missions and should the Navan Business Park wish to participate, there should not be any difficulty in arranging that with Enterprise Ireland.
I assure the Deputy that IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland will continue to promote Navan as a location for suitable inward investment and indigenous projects.
