Calleary’s maiden speech

Ballina business park – Calleary’s maiden speech

Áine Ryan

IN his first Dáil address, Ballina-based TD, Deputy Dara Calleary has stressed the need for the immediate resolution of the IDA business park debacle. He called on the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Billy Kelleher TD ‘to intervene personally’ in the impasse that has left the north Mayo capital without an industrial park for around 12 years. 
Deputy Calleary warned that if the issue wasn’t resolved by Christmas, it was time to start looking at other potential sites.
“This issue is very important to the people of Ballina and the entire surrounding area, and that is why I did not waste anytime in raising it in the Dáil,” said Deputy Calleary.
“I was appalled to learn that the IDA has not visited the site for the industrial park since 2005. The recent figures released by the CSO highlighted the urgent need for job creation in this part of the county, yet representatives from the IDA have not even set foot in the town for almost two years,” he said.
“We have been waiting 12 years for action on this site – which was bought without local agreement and, in fact, against local expert advice. If these issues cannot be resolved within the next 12 weeks, it is time that we examined other sites,” he continued.
In his speech Deputy Calleary also explained to the Dáil that the site on the Sligo Road had been acquired against ‘considerable local expert advice’ regarding difficulties with the title and lack of services. He observed that the title issue remained unresolved. He also accused the IDA of obfuscating on the issue and of refusing to acknowledge the existence of other suitable sites in the town.   
“The reluctance of the IDA and other agencies to invest in Ballina contrasts with the private investment made by local business people in recent years. New hotels, retail units and services have considerably transformed the town’s ability to be an attractive destination,” he added, acknowledging ‘considerable Government investment’ in roads, broadband and the national gas network.
Deputy Calleary also mentioned Coca Cola’s recent decision to expand its workforce in Ballina as testament to the high-quality of the town’s workforce.
“It is extremely frustrating to sit down with parents who make considerable investment in their children’s education only to see it used in cities and towns in other parts of the country because of the lack of industrial and other jobs in the Ballina area,” said Deputy Calleary.
In reply, Minister Kelleher acknowledged the delays were due to the agency’s requirement of ‘unburdened title’.
“Under the National Spatial Strategy, Castlebar and Ballina form a linked hub. Both these towns, together with the town of Westport, are priority locations for Government. The IDA actively promotes them for new foreign direct investment,” said Minister Kelleher.
“The Government recognises the need to provide high-value employment opportunities in the key towns in Mayo which provide sustainable long-term jobs,” he added.
County Manager, Mr Des Mahon told The Mayo News that the Sligo Road property was the best site available. 
“I’m satisfied that the legal formalities are being attended to and that the matter will be resolved at a very early date,” said Mr Mahon.