Mayo must be included in IDA plans — Barrett

Cllr Harry Barrett has called on An Taoiseach to urgently include Castlebar in a new IDA initiative that seeks to build three 25,000 square feet advanced manufacturing plants in locations outside of Dublin and Cork to attract new industry to the regions. The IDA announced on Friday last that three locations have been chosen to start this initiative, and the IDA plans to build new advanced manufacturing facilities in Waterford, Athlone, and Letterkenny. Barrett said according to the IDA statement: "The IDA has identified a number of specific locations where the private sector is unable currently to develop property solutions. In order to boost regional development and win new business, IDA plans to build new advanced manufacturing facilities in Waterford and Athlone, and office space in Letterkenny." Cllr Barrett stated: "I am calling on An Taoiseach, as a matter of urgency, to include Castlebar in this important initiative by the IDA. Castlebar is screaming out for such a facility and could easily be included at this early stage. The town needs another flagship employer to revive our local economy and this would be a huge boost if it were to happen, and with 2,335 people unemployed in the town, we can ill afford to see an opportunity like this go by uncontested. It is very disappointing and annoying that not one of these new facilities will be located in the west of Ireland. I have recently provided figures to show that investment by the IDA in regions outside of Dublin and Cork is dropping every year. This is certainly a wake up call for An Taoiseach; where we see again that a government funded agency is ignoring his own county. I want Castlebar to be at the front of the queue for any new investment coming in. Unfortunately, with weak political delivery and a hands off approach like this, it makes the job all the harder.”