Business Supports

17. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment further to previous parliamentary questions the initiatives he or his Department or associated State agencies have taken to encourage prospective new owners to establish a business at the former (details supplied). [66907/26]

I ask the Minister to outline, further to previous parliamentary questions, the initiatives that he and his Department have taken to encourage prospective new owners to establish a business at the former site of the Bose, subsequently Newbaze, factory in Carrickmacross.

Enterprise Ireland supported the owners of the factory in Carrickmacross over a number of years as they sought to establish themselves as an infant formula and nutritional powders manufacturer. In March 2025, the company informed Enterprise Ireland that the business was no longer viable in Ireland due to inflationary pressures and market conditions. As a result, the owners of the factory took the decision to sell the plant in Carrickmacross and appointed an Irish agent to support the sale process. They are actively seeking interest from potential purchasers of the facility and discussions have taken place with a number of interested parties. This process remains ongoing, and Enterprise Ireland continues to support the company by facilitating introductions to potential buyers, where appropriate. The Department keeps in regular contact with Enterprise Ireland on this important site, as I do myself, as Deputy Carthy knows. Enterprise Ireland has had further discussions with both the owners in China and the company representatives at the facility in September and is continuing to liaise closely with the company to support efforts to secure a buyer for the site as a priority. The company has also confirmed that its team is available to facilitate site visits from public representatives if required. My Department remains committed to driving balanced regional development, including the north east. Enterprise Ireland supported 84 companies in Monaghan and 66 companies in Cavan in 2025. These companies are employing over 14,000 people. The north-east regional enterprise plan is focused on delivering a range of collaborative initiatives to strengthen the enterprise environment in the region. More locally, however, this is an issue that is incredibly important to the Deputy, me and everybody else in the local area. We will continue try our very best to find buyers that will bring new business and new employment to the Carrickmacross area.

I thank the Minister of State. I am a bit disconcerted. There seems to be a takeover by the wee county, with plenty of Louth heads in the Gallery. They are very welcome. I am surprised the Minister of State needed the script at all. She should nearly know that off by heart at this stage because that is the exact same answer that has been provided to me in respect of this building for several years. Of course, the only distinction is that in 2025 we finally heard what had been suspected for quite some time, namely, that the Newbaze factory, despite all the fanfare around opening up and providing substantial employment, was not actually going to happen at all. The Minister of State mentioned that there have been prospective new owners. It would be useful if this House could be told how many have been actively engaged with and how many are currently actively engaged with taking over what was the heart of the south Monaghan economy for a long period, which was the Bose factory. It has tragically been left idle for far too long. I do not believe that we have seen the necessary type of urgency that would actually ensure that we find a new owner for that site.

I thank the Deputy. As he knows, we have sat down together and spoken about this and with Enterprise Ireland. It is owned by a private company. Yes, Enterprise Ireland did support and give financial support to the current owners, but it never got up and running, as he knows, in terms of what the original vision had been from the people who own it currently. I consistently keep in close contact with Enterprise Ireland and regularly seek updates. It is a private facility that will be sold privately, but with the support of Enterprise Ireland trying to promote it as a facility with some fantastic facilities in the actual building itself. Carrickmacross, like many other towns, has a talented workforce in the local area. There is a growing population in south Monaghan. Any employment that we can create that will help County Monaghan and east Cavan is important. Newbaze has the potential to do that. Anything I can do to ensure that we can drive that forward and find new prospective buyers for it, I will certainly do that, and the Deputy has my word on it.

That is all very well and good, but we need to actually see the evidence of it. It is an absolute scandal. If a factory of this prominence was in the centre of Dublin, we would not have the senior Minister refusing to engage on it at all, despite my repeated requests for him to take a hands-on approach. We would not have the same answer regurgitated by Enterprise Ireland time and again, talking about something perhaps happening. It is not good enough for Ministers to say that is Enterprise Ireland's remit. If this factory secures a new owner, the Minister of State would be the first down with the video to commend herself on delivering that. What I am asking for, and what I have been asking for repeatedly, is engagement across all elected representatives from County Monaghan with the Department and to prioritise this issue. The Bose factory site reared more families in my town and surrounding areas than we could even begin to count. The economic impact of its closure has been profound and real. I do not see, and have not seen, the type of urgency that I believe would happen elsewhere if a central economic pillar of a local community was gone that is warranted. I am asking the Minister of State again to prioritise this issue at a Government level and engage with all elected representatives to secure an alternative owner for this site.

The Deputy equally knows my very good colleague, Councillor PJ O'Hanlon in Carrickmacross. As we call him lovingly-----

Is PJ going to buy it?

He is lovingly known as Mr. Carrickmacross. However, as the Deputy well knows, Councillor O'Hanlon, along with the Deputy and his brother, who is an energetic councillor on the ground there too, are doing everything they possibly can to try. It has to be said that we are doing everything we possibly can. It is not an Enterprise Ireland building or an Enterprise Ireland facility. It is there as a Government agency to try to find the buyer to do that. I assure the Deputy that it is one of our regular conversations. I invite agency staff in on regular opportunities to meet, discuss and look for progress, as well as liaising and working with the county manager in Monaghan County Council. We are looking as far and wide-----

"We", or Enterprise Ireland?

-----and throwing the net for as far and wide as we possibly can to try and ensure this. Ultimately, I want to get new buyers into it. I want to get new employment to the area. Carrickmacross is a growing town-----

It has been idle for ten years

----- with growing population and there is a talented and skilled workforce there. I want to see that there are new buyers in it. I assure the Deputy of that. I am sure he would be happy to come and cut the ribbon with me.

They did not quite get through to the final. The Minister of State, Deputy Dillon's Mayo beat them.

It was a wonderful achievement.

As a Monaghan man, I object to that.