I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, specifically in respect of the industrial activity and the IDA's performance in attracting investment into County Laois. I must say that I find the figure of 150 jobs quite extraordinary. When we look at Laois geographically it is on the motorway. It has critical mass in terms of population and one would have thought that there would have been a natural gravitation of foreign direct investment to Laois because of its proximity to labour markets in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. Therefore, it has all the ingredients, one would have thought, to enable more jobs to be located there. Of course, Laois is close to other locations where there are substantial IDA jobs. County boundaries are important but if we look at Kildare, for example, it has an extraordinary number of FDI jobs. It is surprising, in contrast, that Laois does not have a more proportionate number of FDI jobs. Some of that may be because there is a significant critical mass of public sector jobs in Laois due to good decentralisation policies of previous Governments, of which Fianna Fáil was a leading member, but we will not go there. I have spoken to the IDA about this. It has happened a lot on the motorways in some other areas as well. I often thought Thurles would have done better because of its location. Not everywhere on the motorway has had quite the same degree of FDI as other places. It does need focus and attention. The IDA aims to secure about 550 of 1,000 investments - about 55% - in regional locations, including a target of 40 investments in the midlands. Regional investment is supported through strong infrastructure, skilled talent and established industrial clusters, which perhaps is an issue in Laois, and available property solutions. Property solutions - suitable sites - are key. The IDA has invested a lot in land and infrastructure across the midlands, particularly in County Laois. About 30 ha are available for development at the IDA business and technology park in Portlaoise. Recent initiatives include supporting ESB infrastructure to increase local power capacity, enhancing site readiness for large-scale investment and securing planning permission for a new internal road to unlock additional development lands. All of these are designed to strengthen Portlaoise's attractiveness for future investments. The IDA is focusing on high-value manufacturing services and research and development opportunities in the region. Under its 2025 to 2029 property programme, the IDA plans 23 projects nationwide, including an advanced building solution and further business park upgrades in Portlaoise.

Sentiment score: 0.29

Laois is a beautiful county but the Deputy's points about investments there are well made. I would give the example of Carlow. For many years, Carlow had an IDA site. When I was Minister for enterprise the IDA even gave up and wanted it to be used for indigenous companies. I advised patience and that we keep going. Eventually Merck Sharp and Dohme arrived to Carlow. It, along with others, has transformed the area industrially. The site is there and we appeal to the IDA to do everything it possibly can to secure a significant, sustainable, high-value industry for the area.

Sentiment score: 0.14