129. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the initiatives he or his Department or associated State agencies have taken to encourage prospective new owners to establish a business at the former factory (details supplied) at Carrickmacross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30067/26]

Sentiment score: 0.18

The Bose factory was a landmark in the region of Carrickmacross for many years. In 2015, the factory closed and essentially has remained closed ever since because despite the huge fanfare from a Government colleague of the Minister’s, a then Minister, about 60 jobs coming, they never actually came. In recent months, we have been told that the factory is in fact up for sale. I seek an update on the Minister’s efforts to secure alternative employment for that site.

Sentiment score: 0.04

The building has essentially lain idle for 11 years. I mentioned it was 2019 when we had the fanfare and the Minister’s party taking credit, make no mistake about it, for jobs brought by Fine Gael to Carrickmacross. The jobs never materialised. The question that needs to be answered is whether the Minister will take a hands-on approach. We met Enterprise Ireland. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, she organised a briefing for local Oireachtas Members when the Minister, Deputy Burke, refused to answer my repeated requests for such a meeting. This is a crucially important venue. It is a huge site and was historically, economically very significant and important for the south Monaghan region, and it has lain idle. It seems as though everything is being left in the hands of the owners of this building, who have left it vacant for the past six years. My request is that the Minister take a hands-on approach to ensure we restore viable, high-end employment to this site.

Sentiment score: 0.15

If a buyer is found and a new enterprise is established, the Minister will be there to cut the ribbon and get all the glory. That is the benefit of being in government. However, the job of being in government is that one does not get to hide behind a State agency when we are trying to secure reinvestment in an area that has been deprived because of the closure of a substantive factory. People refer to the prima facie evidence, good will and the rest of it. Has the Minister’s Department established whether the owners of the Newbaze site, previously the Bose factory, availed of the immigrant investment scheme, for example? There are huge question marks over what exactly happened on the site. Given the level of investment we were told was being made in the building, with virtually no economic activity as a result, it does not make sense.

Sentiment score: 0.17

That means 40% of them are in Dublin.

Sentiment score: 0.00