The Government said that the strategy is essential to ensuring Ireland remains competitive in attracting the next wave of large-scale, high-value manufacturing investment opportunities in sectors such as semiconductors, life sciences, and renewables.

The Irish Government has signed off on a strategic approach to developing next-generation sites (NGS) that are considered central to the country’s plans to be industrially competitive in attracting future manufacturing investments.

NGS development is to be led by IDA Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, with collaborative efforts to be made alongside other Government departments, state agencies and utility providers as needed for the preparation and development of each site.

The Government said that the strategy is essential to ensuring Ireland remains competitive in attracting the next wave of large-scale, high-value manufacturing investment opportunities in sectors such as semiconductors, life sciences and renewables.

The goal of the NGS approach is to provide pre-permitted, master-planned landbanks with clear pathways to delivery of required utilities and transport, including public transport, to enable swift development and certainty for investors.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD said that the “plan-led” approach to NGS development would help Ireland win “high-value, employment-rich projects in future-focused sectors”, with three sites anticipated for creation in the next 15 years.

Each site is forecast to be between 500 and 1,000 acres, with one each in the west, east and south of the country, although potential locations will not be publicly disclosed to protect the integrity of negotiations and future acquisitions.

The Government said preparing sites in advance would reduce risk and accelerate decision-making for investors, “crucial to competing for large-scale investments in today’s fast moving international environment”.

It said that each site would be chosen by IDA Ireland for its ability to connect efficiently to energy, transport and water networks, and for its proximity to talent, third-level institutions and supply chains.

“The sectors targeted by NGS – semiconductors, life sciences and green energy, in particular – provide quality and skilled employment, pay high salaries and contribute to Ireland’s tax receipts,” said Burke.

He added that “many global companies in the semiconductor and life science sectors located and expanded in Ireland over several decades”, and are now employing tens of thousands in “well-paid jobs, with several now operating across multiple sites”.

The NGS sign-off is in line with the Government’s ‘Silicon Island’ national strategy on semiconductors, which was unveiled last May.

The strategy is a part of the Programme for Government, is aligned with the European Chips Act and the EU Digital Decade, and aims to supercharge the country’s semiconductor industry through skills development, boosting R&D, the development of the domestic semiconductor ecosystem and attracting foreign investment.

The plan also commits to developing large-scale manufacturing sites with the necessary infrastructure, enhance R&D capacity and support businesses working in the semiconductor industry with commercialisation support and access to finance.

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