IDA to partner with Laois County Council for Portlaoise plan

The Minister for Enterprise says the IDA is planning to partner with Laois County Council to deliver an Advanced Planning Permit in Portlaoise.

This move would see planning secured for a building on a site in Portlaoise so that the IDA had a shovel-ready site to offer to companies interested in setting up in the county. 

The plans were revealed following a Parliamentary Question by Galway Sinn Fein TD Louis O'Hara. He asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department, or State bodies including the IDA and EI, can provide any support to address a lack of commercial units within a town or village. 

In response, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke described the availability of strategic sites as a “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 Property Programme, IDA provides property solutions aligned with evolving client needs. In locations where little or no suitable property solutions are available for FDI, and where market failure has resulted in a lack of private sector-led advanced solutions, IDA Ireland intervenes to provide high-quality and sustainable property solutions aligned with evolving client needs. Further, through their network of nine regional offices Enterprise Ireland works closely with IDA Ireland in identifying potential property solutions for clients based on their identified needs,” said Minister Burke. 

He said the key objective of the Regional Property Programme was to deliver property solutions to clients in advance of demand. This includes collaboration with Local Authorities on advance planning permits and investment in infrastructure projects to meet evolving business needs. He said the IDA is also focussed on acquiring new landbanks and strategic sites to support future projects across all key sectors.

The IDA’s Regional Building Programme 2025-2029 will consist of 23 projects across 21 locations in eight regions and primarily manufacturing buildings. Over the next five years, IDA will aim to complete six buildings currently under construction, in planning or procurement stages including Cavan, Letterkenny, Drogheda, Mullingar, Longford, and Castlebar. 

Additionally, he said, six new builds will commence in Dundalk, Limerick, Athlone, Sligo, Galway, and Waterford, subject to successful, planning and procurement phases. New building projects will only commence upon review of currently available IDA properties in these locations.

Minister Burke said the “IDA will also partner with local authorities and will deliver nine Advance Planning Permits in Letterkenny, Mayo, Tullamore, Mullingar, Kilkenny, Navan, Portlaoise, Tralee and Roscommon and reinstatement of the two expired permits in Ballinasloe and Carrick on Shannon (the Carrick on Shannon permit has been reinstated). A total of 11 partnership projects will be undertaken nationally.” 

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“This targeted planning ensures Ireland remains competitive and meets the changing needs of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland clients. IDA actively promotes available buildings and land in IDA Business Parks and high-quality buildings in private ownership through their network of overseas offices to both IDA and EI clients in accordance with IDA’s statutory remit,” said Minister Burke.