This article is from page 18 of the 2006-05-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
ENTERPRISE, Trade and Employment Minister, Michael Martin, has stated that Shannon Development is confident about the future of the €110 million Ennis Information Age Park.
Earlier this month, it emerged that 37 jobs had been created at the park, with 17 of those jobs transferred from the now defunct business centre at Francis Street, Ennis.
In responding to a question from Green party leader, Trevor Sargent, on the issue, Minister Martin said that Shannon Development was in the very early stages of a long-term development that would provide “a high potential start-up base for Ennis and County Clare”.
He said it would also accommodate foreign direct investment companies brought to Ireland by IDA Ireland.
“The park will offer a range of accommodation options that will ensure that the needs of all knowledge-age business are met, irrespective of size or development stage. The inclusion of an innovation works incubation facility by Shannon Development is designed to fast track the development of Irish high potential start up enterprise.”
He added that in order to drive job creation in the park, Shannon Development would continue to attract and help establish “High Potential Start Ups in IAPE(Information Age Park Ennis), through its Venture Development Process.”
“This process encapsulates the various stages of business development from idea generation, feasibility study stage, project development and market launch, and business expansion and offers an integrated package of business development programmes to achieve this. At present, the total space let to enterprises is 5,000 sq ft and there is over 8,500 sq ft available for letting in three units of large floor office space, suitable for second stage incubation projects.
“In addition, Shannon Development is accommodating Clare County Council, which is renting 20,000 square foot of office space at the park before it moves to its new headquarters next year. This is a short-term arrangement, and Shannon Development has held back sufficient space to accommodate any FDI (foreign direct investment) space requirements should the IDA require.”