Taoiseach hopeful for jobs at Castlebar IDA site

Edwin McGreal

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny is hopeful jobs can secured swiftly following the news that planning permission has been granted for a new €5 million IDA facility in Castlebar.
The application for planning was made by the IDA earlier this year and was this week approved by Mayo County Council.
The facility will be constructed on the dormant IDA Park on the Breaffy Road in Castlebar, which has lain idle for almost a decade.
The Taoiseach feels the facility has the potential to attract 300 jobs to Castlebar.
“I am delighted that this project has got the green light from the county council and expect it will move swiftly from here,” said the Taoiseach.
The facility is a 2,500 square metres facility which will consist of a 1,500 square metres production space and 1,000 square metres office space. The IDA will now seek to find businesses, both Irish and foreign, to fill the space.
The Taoiseach said he was hopeful the site would be operational in the next 12 months and estimated that it will require 80 construction jobs during its build. The facility is believed to attract firms across different sectors.
“This news today is good news for our county town and has the potential to attract up to 300 high quality jobs upon completion depending on the industry attracted. I have spoken with the IDA and I understand they will market the building on a cross-sector basis to multinationals predominantly in the life-sciences, information and communications technology, engineering and services sector,” he said.
The Taoiseach added that the building forms part of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs, which will see a €150 million capital investment programme into the Western region.
The Mayo News understands the project will just take up a portion of the space in the dormant IDA site, leaving scope for further investment in the future.