I have spoken on several occasions about what I perceive to be woeful neglect on the part of IDA Ireland in replacing hundreds of jobs lost in recent years, particularly in the manufacturing sector, and its failure to introduce employment investment, especially in the south east. It has been brought to my attention, from within IDA Ireland, that the organisation is wasting millions of euro of taxpayers' money in order to lease empty buildings throughout the country each year. I was brought to a cluster unit in Waterford-----

The Deputy should switch off his phone.

It is Bertie calling Deputy Finian McGrath.

It is Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan.

Point taken.

Deputy John Halligan is in the middle of framing a question.

I am not taking his calls.

Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan should be left out of it.

Deputy John Halligan should proceed.

I was taken to visit a cluster unit in my constituency which had been lying idle for 15 years. The position is the same in several other such units throughout the country and this has resulted in an outlay of €2.5 million in rent each year, with no return for the taxpayer in the long term. I am informed that the leases for these properties are unbreakable. I am also informed that over half of the commercial premises leased by IDA Ireland are either unused and idle. One such premises in Dublin is costing the taxpayer €1.3 million per year. The cost for several others is €750,000 annually. Many of the leases on these properties are set to run for another couple of decades. I visited one premises in respect of which, when the lease expires, we will have paid €1 million extra. In the current economic climate which has been catastrophic for SMEs and small businesses how is it possible that such wanton waste of taxpayers' money is being allowed? We are leaving buildings idle and spending considerable amounts on leases and rates at a time when the country is literally on its knees and cutbacks are being made in disability and health services. The Taoiseach knows as well as I do that many start-ups fail in the first year because of the burden of rents and rates. I am aware of people who start up their businesses and are obliged to run their operations from a bedroom or sitting-room in their own homes for a year or two before they can rent suitable premises. Is the Taoiseach in a position to indicate whether all of the leases to which I refer are definitely unbreakable? If not, will he make urgent inquiries in order to discover whether we can extricate ourselves from them and vacate others which are coming up for review? Will he press for the development of a new scheme or initiative by means of which new uses could be found for the buildings to which I refer? Perhaps they might be given to companies either free of charge or at considerably reduced rates. I reiterate that we are wasting millions of euro of taxpayers' money each year in the current economic climate.

Well done.

I thank Deputy John Halligan for raising this matter. IDA Ireland is the agency which has for many years dealt with inward investment. Of its type, it is one of the best in the world. It has an extraordinary record of success and last year was one of the agency's best to date. It works with companies that wish to invest in the country in the areas of manufacturing, research and development, innovation, etc.

In the past the industries which used to be interested in Ireland required what were called "advance factories". The Deputy will be aware of them, many of which were smaller warehouses and units and built - either individually or in clusters - throughout the country. They were not confined to the south east or any other location. There are aging advanced factories at various locations which were never occupied or which were only occupied for very short periods. The reason for this is IDA Ireland was of the view that it was appropriate to have a building ready should companies decide to establish operations at particular locations. Matters have very much moved on and the vast majority of companies that wish to invest in Ireland now require greenfield sites of a much greater scale than was the case in the past. These companies want buildings to be designed to meet their needs and circumstances. The Deputy is correct when he states leases were entered into on a longer term basis for many of the older buildings, one of which has been unoccupied since 1998.

I do not know the details of the contracts, but it is important that a company looking at Ireland and its distinct advantages, be it from the point of view of tax, talent, technology or track record, has access to buildings that are available. That is the reason IDA Ireland had a leased arrangement for a number of buildings that might be suitable for particular companies. The Deputy is well aware that the bigger companies require a much bigger scale and scope in terms of site acquisition.

One can never estimate accurately what might happen. For instance, Eistech, which had only nine positions last year, has more than 400 now and it has announced a further 250 for Wexford. That company has expanded and grown rapidly because it does its business so well.

There were 33 visits by IDA Ireland to the south east in 2012. The scale of interest is being highlighted by the authority for companies to consider. That is replicated at home by Enterprise Ireland, which is constantly engaging with smaller Irish companies that might like to grow, change direction or have the opportunity to expand their markets.

The Deputy's point about the scale and the number of leases is correct. Traditionally, that is the reason that happened. It is very different now in that companies wishing to come here look for much bigger sites and buildings of a particular design that is suitable for their specific needs.

We can examine the policy of holding on to much older advance factories or locations with IDA Ireland, but I believe in most cases the leases were set out for a longer period. The total outstanding balance payable on leases in County Waterford, for instance, to the end of their terms is approximately €1 million.

I will make two points. First, my contact within IDA Ireland is a conscientious chap and it bothers him to think that all this money is being wasted every year. He made the point to me that in respect of some premises around the country that were taken on 15, 16 or 17 years ago, IDA Ireland now acknowledges it has no hope of introducing multinational companies into those areas because of their locations, but it is tied into these leases for another five or six years, which is a cost to the taxpayer.

Second, in opposition we are often accused of not offering alternatives or making critical analyses, but at a time when new businesses, charitable organisations and youth groups are struggling, how can it be the case that half of all IDA Ireland premises, some of which have been lying idle for 15 years, may still be lying idle in five or ten years' time at a huge cost to the taxpayer? In the current economic circumstances, as the person in IDA Ireland told me, we can ill afford to waste €10, let alone €2.5 million, every year on empty premises when we could be helping out the people in this country.

If we are talking specifically about older advance factory-type buildings which have lain idle or were used only for a very short time, I am not sure of the details of any particular contract or lease, but if somebody else wants to use one of these buildings, I am sure there is an opportunity for discussion or negotiation. If some local indigenous operator wanted to acquire a premises in which to do business, I am sure IDA Ireland would be willing to discuss that. IDA Ireland knows best, in terms of its success rate over the years, where companies might want to locate, and it cannot force them to locate in any particular area.

The Deputy's point is that the buildings are in situ. In this city, for instance, the extent of interest in investing is very high. I am quite sure that empty buildings that are under lease are being viewed constantly by potential investors who wish to set up here. I can confirm for the Deputy that the line of investment and interest in investing in the country is very strong. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, was in Texas last week talking to people from 40 different companies. I hope to enhance that progress when I have the opportunity to meet with a range of potential investors in the United States next week. Also, with regard to indigenous operators, the Deputy will be aware that Irish firms employ more than 100,000 people in 50 states. Many of those want to expand, and it may be the case that the point the Deputy raised could be considered. I thank the Deputy for doing so.