A site has been finalised by the IDA for an industrial park in Ballina following almost a decade of hold-ups, Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has confirmed.
Deputy Calleary has been working on finding a solution to the problems surrounding the industrial park since before his election and he is delighted that the end is now in sight to the problems endured by the development.
Speaking following the announcement, he said: “I am delighted to confirm that the IDA has finally acquired the title of the site in Ballina for the purpose of developing an industrial park. They are currently in negotiations with Mayo County Council and they hope to be in a position to advance to tendering in October with a view to commencing work on the site in February.
“This will be a considerable boost for Ballina and north Mayo and it is something I have been working on since before my election as a TD. I chose it as the subject matter for my maiden speech in the Dáil, such is the importance I have placed on progressing this issue.
“The former Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mr Micheál Martin TD visited Ballina in April at my request with the view to progressing the development and while here he met with members of Ballina Town Council.
“I would like to thank Minister Martin for his assistance. We have taken a long time to get to this point but I am hopeful that we will move on from this point at a much faster pace.
“I look forward now to seeing a state-of-the-art site developed that will have the potential to attract industry to the town. I will continue to promote Ballina as a town primed for investment and I am hopeful that the talented workforce in the environs of the town will soon see job opportunities at the industrial park.”
The last year has seen Ballina connected to the gas network, the upgrading of the town’s drainage system, and huge retail investment, and this news is further evidence that the time has never been better for large-scale investment.
“We saw earlier this year how industrial parks can improve the fortune of a town in Carlow where Merck invested considerably last year. This is what we need in Ballina to build on the industry we currently have, and I will continue to work to ensure that Ballina is on the radar of industry investors,” concluded Dep Calleary.
