Call for action on IDA facility in Mayo's county town

A Mayo TD has expressed concerns over a lack of progress on the new multi-million-euro Mayo IDA facility in Castlebar.

Deputy Alan Dillon set out: “Plans were announced in 2021 for the delivery of an Advanced Building Solution in Castlebar as part of a key strategic objective under the IDA’s Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth 2021 - 2024. The delivery of 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) across six regions in 16 locations were planned.

“Of these, eight will be completed by the second quarter of 2023. Another eight buildings will be constructed by the end of 2023. However, the building in Castlebar, along with just two other planned buildings in Galway and Longford, still remain at the site selection process.”

Deputy Dillon said the lack of progress on the Castlebar facility is seriously concerning.

“I am extremely disappointed that the site selection process is taking so much time given the desperate need for this building to attract investment and jobs to Mayo,” he commented.

Speaking in Dáil Éireann last week, Deputy Dillon told An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: “While I welcome the IDA’s four-year strategy, the proposed Castlebar Advanced Building Solution is one of three that has not completed the site selection process.

“It is still unclear when the design, planning and construction stages will begin.

“I would appeal to you Taoiseach that this project would get your full attention. We have seen the success of Meissner filtration located in Castlebar in a similar building delivered by the IDA.”

Deputy Dillon commented: “I have now called on the IDA and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to speed up this process to ensure that the Castlebar project moves to design and planning by quarter three of 2023 and that construction of this strategically important building commences in early 2024.”