The elected members of Ballina Municipal District have called on the IDA to put together firm plans for sites it owns in the town.
Fine Gael councillor John O'Hara placed a motion before the the May meeting of the district this week, which read: "Calling on Ballina Municipal Area to clarify the position on the IDA site on the Sligo Road and also the vacant ground at the back of Greenhills Estate."
Cllr O'Hara said at the meeting that there is no shovel-ready IDA site in Ballina and should any industrialist or company have an interest in coming to the area, 'there is nothing to show them'. He went on to say that there isn't even a road into the Sligo Road site.
He said that he would like the IDA to come to one of their meetings and make a presentation to the councillors, so that a plan can be put together. He added that the IDA should look at making Ballina a hub for 'something like apprenticeships'.
He was supported by fellow councillors, with Independent councillor Mark Duffy saying that the councillors should meet with the IDA on site and that the fact there is no planning permission in place on the Sligo Road site, might be a deterrent for people who would consider Ballina for a project.
Head of the district for Mayo County Council, Declan Turnbull, said he would follow up on the motion with the IDA.
