This article is from page 3 of the 2006-12-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
ENTERPRISE, Trade and Employment Minister Michael Martin has strongly hinted that more jobs are on the way for the Shannon Free Zone.
In response to a Dáil question from Green party leader, Trevor Sargent, Minister Martin confirmed that investment proposals on behalf of three new companies seeking to establish operations at the Shannon Free Zone have been considered by Shannon Development.
“This year, Shannon Development hosted 11 first time itineraries to the Shannon Free Zone on behalf of companies. 20 new enquiries have been handled by Shannon Development in the course of the year to date and these are at various stages of progression,” Mr Martin said.
“Shannon Development is confident that it will continue to secure significant new foreign direct investment projects for the Shannon Free Zone in the future.
Earlier this year, two sizable company expansions, Halifax Ireland and Sykes International, and one sizable new operation, Digital River Ireland, were announced for the Shannon Free Zone, amounting to a total job creation potential of 635 jobs over the next five years.”
The IDA has statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to the Mid-West, except for the Shannon Free Zone and Minister Martin revealed that in 2006, the IDA hosted five site visits in Clare.
“IDA Ireland advise me that the Mid-West has excellent prospects in terms of attracting additional foreign direct investment in 2007 and beyond. In particular, IDA Ireland believe there is very significant scope for the region to grow as a centre of excellence in research and development activity.
Clare Green party election candidate, Cllr Brian Meaney said that the news that more jobs are on the way for Shannon was very positive and highlighted the folly of the Government considering to transfer the promotion of the Free Zone to the IDA.
“The statistics show that Shannon Development has been very pro-active in attracting foreign direct investment into the Free Zone. This is contrasted with the IDA which has managed only five site visits to Clare this year.
“This is a matter of concern with it becoming more and more difficult to attract foreign investment into Ennis’s Information Age Park and other peripheral areas of Clare.”