Works being carried out on IDA lands in Louth amid ‘potential investment opportunities’
Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke has provided an update on the lands in Mell, Drogheda
Works are being carried out on IDA lands in County Louth amid the potential for investment opportunities, the Minister for Enterprise has said.
Minister Peter Burke was responding to a written parliamentary question which was recently tabled by Louth Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly.
Deputy Butterly enquired about the current status of the IDA Ireland lands in Mell, Drogheda.
She also asked what actions are being taken by the Department of Enterprise and the IDA to “unblock, service and activate these lands to enable further industrial and employment generating investment”.
In response, Minister Burke emphasised the importance of foreign direct investment and strategic regional development.
“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.
“Furthermore, the IDA is positioning the Mid-East Region, including Co. Louth, as a competitive destination for global investment, targeting 55 of these 550 investments to the Mid-East.”
He went on to outline the current status of the lands in Mell which are owned by the IDA.
“To this end, IDA Ireland holds a c. 19-hectare landbank at Mell North and a c. 17.9-hectare landbank at Mell South in Drogheda, Co. Louth.
“These landbanks form part of IDA Ireland’s long-term strategic plans to position Drogheda and the wider Mid-East region to support future investment from FDI and indigenous client companies of Enterprise Ireland.
“IDA Ireland is actively progressing services and infrastructure enhancement works on its landholding at Mell North to ensure the site can be marketed to support investment opportunities.
“IDA Ireland has also obtained planning approval for an Advance Building Solution on IDA Ireland’s Mell North lands, aligned to the current Regional Property Programme under the Adapt Intelligently Strategy 2025–2029.”
Minister Burke continued by highlighting plans for Mell South, as well as other plans for the wider region.
“IDA Ireland has also recently submitted a planning application on its Mell South landbank for enabling infrastructure and utility requirements to also ready this landbank for potential investment opportunities.
“IDA Ireland’s 2025–2029 strategy also commits to progressing an Advanced Building Solution in Drogheda and partnering with Meath County Council for the delivery of an advance planning permit for an Advanced Technology Building in Navan to advance the location from an attractiveness perspective.”
He stated that the Department of Enterprise will continue to engage with Louth County Council to ensure the timely development of these sites.
Minister Burke also highlighted the amount of foreign direct investment in the region, whilst acknowledging the challenges being faced.
“The Mid-East region continues to perform strongly in terms of FDI, with 126 IDA Ireland-supported multinational companies directly employing 20,284 people, and employment amongst IDA Ireland client companies increasing by 5% over the past five years.
“I acknowledge recent challenges, including employment losses in the region in 2025 reflecting sectoral and client-specific developments.
“Notwithstanding this, IDA Ireland continues to supports sustainable growth across its client base through a focus on transformative investments in RD&I, digitalisation, training, and sustainability, aimed at enhancing competitiveness and productivity within Irish operations and their workforce.”
He concluded by saying that the Department of Enterprise will continue to support business and economic development in County Louth and beyond.