Portlaoise business sites are finally being marketed to foreign companies to create Laois jobs

The State agency tasked with bringing jobs to Ireland via foreign direct investment by firms in the United States and elsewhere is finally ready to market sites in Portlaoise on land it bought in 2022, according to Laois TD Willie Aird.

In a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live the Fine Gael Government TD said the availability of almost 30 hectares of serviced land in Portlaoise is also a major opportunity for Laois to secure new foreign direct investment. He urged to State agency responsible to finally deliver jobs Laois.

Dep Aird said the progress on the land attached to the IDA Business and Technology Park on the Mountrath Road emerged from the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke who also confirmed that the site is now being actively marketed by IDA Ireland.

Dep Aird said the Portlaoise land bank is substantial.

“For too long we have been told that site availability is a barrier. That excuse is gone. Laois now has a credible, investment‑ready site and it needs to be front and centre in IDA marketing,” he said.

The IDA, which has a dismal job creation record in Laois, revealed in 2022 that it had purchased land beside the existing business park which is not at capacity.

Dep Aird said the Minister explained that site has been the focus of ongoing preparation work, including the provision of land to ESB to increase local power capacity and the granting of planning permission for a new internal road to open additional development lands.

Deputy Aird said these works are essential if Laois is to compete for large projects.

“Power capacity, road access and serviced land are the basics. Investors expect certainty. I welcome the progress that has been made but we need to keep the pressure on to ensure this site is fully utilised,” he said.

READ ALSO: Laois in the frame for jobs as IDA buys land in Portlaoise

Dep Aird said the Minister also confirmed that IDA Ireland is targeting 1,000 new investments under its current strategy, with 550 of these to be located in regional areas. Forty are planned for the Midlands, which includes Laois.

Deputy Aird said the regional targets are welcome but must translate into real projects.

“Targets are fine, but delivery is what matters. Laois has the workforce and the location. We need to see more site visits and more active promotion of the county,” he said.

There are 51 IDA client companies operating in the Midlands, employing 7,501 people. Dispite have a population of nearly 100,000, there are just five IDA‑supported companies in Laois employ 156 people.

Deputy Aird said the figures show that the region has a strong base, but that Laois needs continued investment in site readiness and infrastructure if it is to attract new employers.

READ ALSO: IDA brought just two foreign companies to visits sites in Laois

“We have the potential, but we need to keep building the case. I will continue to push for more investment and more attention on Laois. The county deserves its share of new jobs,” he concluded.

The attractiveness of Laois to companies has been highlighted in recent years by Laois County Council which developed industrial land near the M7 motorway at what is called the J17 National Enterprise Park. Midlands Steel, Alpha Drives and Kirby Engineering are among the companies that have set up there.

By contrast, less than five companies operate in the IDA Park, which has been open for many years.

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The IDA previously sold a tranche of land at the business park to the Office of Public Works for €1 million. It was intended that the site would be used for a Department of Agriculture HQ in Portlaoise. Planning was granted but the building was never constructed and there are no plans to revive the plan.