Fianna Fáil councillor, Frankie Keena, is calling for the IDA to increase its landholding in Athlone in the interest of further job creation.
Cllr Keena made the call at this week’s meeting of the Athlone Municipal District on Monday (March 7 ). The IDA has already established a much-utilised business park at Garrycastle with significant development taking place there in the last few years. There remains some undeveloped land at the business park, but Cllr Keena expressed his desire to see the IDA plan for the future by purchasing more.
Cllr Keena told the chamber that it is essential to continue the good work done by the IDA at Garrycastle by planning for the future. He said the IDA need to be more proactive in encouraging industry to Athlone, and called on the council to write to the organisation and request a visit so that plans can be made for the future.
Cllr John Dolan (FG ) echoed Cllr Keena’s calls. He said the IDA had told councillors on a previous visit that Athlone would be “a hub for industry” in the future. He said that the number of industries attracted to the town in recent years shows there is confidence in Athlone to be just that. He added that it is essential land is identified and plans made for future developments in the area.
Fianna Fáil’s Aengus O’Rourke said planning future developments is “a very important matter” that councillors “should relentlessly work on”. The council will now write to the IDA to request a visit in the near future.
