This article is from page 2 of the 2006-02-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
THE Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has revealed that Shannon Development is to sell a prime 13-acre site in the centre of Shannon town, to allow Enterprise Ireland set up its new Shannon HQ.
However, in a Dáil response, Minister Michael Martin was unable to give a timescale for the decentralisation of 300 Enterprise Ireland jobs to Shannon.
Minister Martin revealed that so far, only 19 existing employees at Enterprise Ireland had indicated their willingness to transfer to Shannon, while an additional 33 public servants had also expressed an interest to move there, giving a total of 52.
“The most immediate implementation step for Enterprise Ireland is to provide for a new headquarters building designed to meet the business needs of the organisation.
“Enterprise Ireland, working closely with the Office of Public Works, OPW, has identified but not yet acquired a preferred site from the submissions received by the OPW in relation to the Shannon location.
“The preferred site is a 13-acre site owned by Shannon Development. In addition, and in cooperation with Shannon Development and OPW, the site was valued and a feasibility study carried out. The site occupies a prime position near the centre of Shannon and is considered suitable for a major landmark building or civic structure.
“It is too early to comment definitively on a timescale, or on the cost of the transfer of Enterprise Ireland’s headquarters to Shannon. The factors of significance in this regard, will be the acquisition of property and the level of interest in the Shannon location expressed by CAF applicants.
“My Department is corresponding with the Department of Finance regarding the acquisition of the preferred site.
In relation to the decentralisation of a section from the Revenue Commissioners to Kilrush, the Minister said that scheme was over-subscribed by 32 with 83 expressing an interest for 50 jobs. Minister Martin said that negotiations were continuing with a property owner to lease a building.
However, little or no progress appears to have been made in relation to the relocation of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) to Shannon where 100 jobs are set to be decentralised. Only 16 people have expressed an interest.