An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, announced on Wednesday that the IDA will bring on stream an advanced technology building in Castlebar this year, which will be located at the Castlebar Technology Park on the Breaffy Road. The building will be developed on a one hectare site in the park that is located close to the Baxter plant in the town. The building will be a approximately 25,000 square feet in size and the IDA will be marketing it on a cross-sector basis to multinational companies based in the life-science, engineering, ICT, and services sector.
It is expected that the new facility would be able to support the direct employment for between 100 and 300 jobs.
The announcement was made on Wednesday as part of the Government’s five-year, €250 million, strategy aimed at accelerating the jobs recovery in every part of the country, called Action Plan for Jobs – Regional. The plan is based on the principle that the best way to support job-creation in towns and villages across the country is to support agencies and organisations within each region to build on the particular strengths and assets of their area and drive new job-creation strategies and projects.
IDA Ireland will roll out a five-year €150 million capital investment programme to help attract more multinational jobs into each region. This programme will build on the recent investment by the IDA in facilities in Athlone and Waterford, and will include the investment in Castlebar.
Welcoming the announcement a spokesperson for the Mayo Enterprise and Innovation Advocacy Group said: “We have been advocating for Mayo to have at least one large enterprise ready facility anywhere in the county with 35,000 to 75,000 sq. ft. capacity, where a high technology international investor could set up a business quickly and employ several hundred people. Some weeks ago, the old Volex facility in Castlebar was purchased by Mayo County Council. This announcement by the IDA to build another similar facility gives a clear message that the Taoiseach, the Government and IDA have Mayo as a top priority for inward investment opportunities”
Speaking at the launch An Taoiseach said: "While recovery is under way, we cannot let it bypass families or communities on the basis of their location. Irish recovery is for all of Ireland. Today, the Government is publishing a €250 million plan to ensure that no part of Ireland is left behind in the jobs recovery. While every part of the country has seen an increase in jobs since 2012, we can and must do more. The Regional Action Plan for Jobs will maximise the individual strengths and assets of each region to support enterprise growth and job creation. The plan also includes up to €150 million for an IDA property investment programme to attract foreign direct investment into different parts of Ireland. All of these initiatives are part of the Government's strategy to rebuild a strong enterprise economy that can support full employment."
Welcoming the announcement, Sylvester Jennings, president of the Castlebar Chamber, said: “This is good news for the town and will see a number of new jobs coming on stream during the construction phase initially also, while in the long term it will help the town and the county as a whole prosper”
