32. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the steps being taken to attract new IDA-supported investment and employment to Cork North-West, particularly Mallow, Kanturk, Millstreet and Macroom. [66952/26]

Balanced regional development is a key focus of the work of my Department and our Enterprise Development agencies. In this regard, IDA Ireland is continuing its strong commitment to promoting FDI in regional locations as part of its 2025-29 strategy, Adapt Intelligently, and is targeting 550, or 55% of FDI projects outside Dublin over the strategy's lifetime.

Cork forms part of IDA Ireland’s South-West Region, alongside County Kerry, and is a key focus of the agency’s regional strategy. IDA Ireland is targeting 155 of the 550 targeted investments to the South-West Region.

The South-West region is actively promoted to prospective investors and is home to 245 IDA client companies employing 53,535 people, the highest level of IDA-supported employment outside Dublin. Employment among these companies has grown by 17% over the past five years, reflecting continued strength in foreign direct investment. In North Cork, 10 IDA client companies currently employ 1,623 people across Millstreet, Kanturk, Charleville, Mallow, Mitchelstown and Fermoy.

IDA Ireland utilises a range of strategies to maximise dispersal of FDI nationally. IDA’s regional focus leverages the wider demographic catchment of a region, the track record of existing client companies already located in the region, the presence of third-level universities to provide a skilled talent pipeline for companies investing in the region, and the availability of property and developed infrastructure assets. IDA’s regional development strategy and regional investment targets are aligned with Government policy, including Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework.

As the Deputy is aware, the availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and can be the key differentiator in investment decisions in the regions from both new and existing clients as well as clients of Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs. Through its Regional Property Programme, IDA aims to provide agile, sustainable, flexible property solutions, providing certainty to clients in advance of demand.  This approach enhances the opportunity for attracting investments in key growth areas such as digitalisation, AI, semiconductors, health and sustainability. These strategic employment locations will be integrated with high-quality public transport, supporting population and economic growth while enhancing the wider Cork metropolitan area and the South-West region’s position as a leading destination for skilled labour and innovative industries.

IDA Ireland continues to work closely with key stakeholders such as infrastructure service providers, Enterprise Ireland and Cork County Council, to ensure the identification and development of lands that are suitable for client investment.  IDA Ireland also engages with the private sector on opportunities to add to the supply of competitive property solutions in Cork and the South-West region.  Their ongoing focus is to build on the strengths of this region, with particular emphasis on high-value manufacturing, services, and research and development opportunities.

I can assure you that I am committed to driving a competitive, resilient and sustainable economy that supports enterprise, tourism and employment across all of Ireland’s regions.