No current plans for Mayo science and technology park

There are currently no plans in place to establish a science and technology park in Castlebar, Jobs Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed.

He said the IDA continues to review its property and land portfolio on an ongoing basis in line with the strong emphasis it places on FDI in regional Ireland.

He was responding to a question raised by Mayo Deputy Alan Dillon regarding the setting up of the facility in Castlebar 'to enhance the competitiveness of the county globally for inward investment and ensure balanced and sustainable job creation in the county'.

Minister Varadkar said his department, IDA Ireland and other enterprise agencies are doing everything possible to support businesses and get people safely back to work, whether in Mayo or elsewhere.

“Despite the challenges we have faced this year - over 130 investments to date in 2020, which have the potential to create almost 10,000 jobs.

"Almost half of these new projects were secured for locations outside Dublin, with 53 investments from companies investing in Ireland for the first time.

"Mayo has experienced year-on-year increases in employment by IDA client companies since 2013, with 108 net new jobs created in 2019.

“There are now 17 IDA client companies in the county employing nearly 5,000 people.

"Mayo is home to a number of particularly prominent multinationals - such as Allergan, Baxter Healthcare and Coca Cola - that continue to perform well.

“The IDA's Business and Technology Park in Castlebar has also helped to attract FDI to the County.

"Last September, I had the honour of visiting this Business Park to attend the official opening of Fort Wayne Metals' new manufacturing facility, which will create more than 80 new jobs over the next five years,” he added.