Identify properties so businesses can invest in Mayo county town
CASTLEBAR Municipal District has been asked to identify and compile a list of all available commercial properties in the Castlebar area for businesses seeking to invest in the town.
The list should include turn-key premises or zoned sites suitable for immediate use, and larger or strategic sites with potential for future zoning and business expansion.
Councillor Harry Barrett wants to see this information readily available to business interests and agencies who are seeking to attract inward investment or support expansion into Castlebar from overseas firms.
He tabled a motion following recent discussions with the founder of Eyedea Medtec Education, Damian Carr, a highly respected global expert in surgical medical devices, about establishing a medical device innovation hub. Mayo County Council is working with Mr. Carr.
This is about the future for Castlebar, with companies interested in investing, said Councillor Barrett, and they had to have sites or properties available for investors.
The Volex site is underused, he said, and they also needed to talk about an advance factory.
This industry is immune from AI, he added, and there will always be a need for these devices, and Castlebar can compete in this space.
Councillor Ger Deere said the IDA has an advance factory site identified and that is progressing well under Minister Alan Dillon.
There are smaller businesses also looking for premises, he added, and he knew of two contractors - electrical and roofing - who couldn't get a suitable property in the town.
Councillor Blackie Gavin said Mr. Carr should be invited to address a municipal meeting.
On the former Volex site, Councillor Donna Sheridan said the property had been sold in two parts, the second on the open market.
She was interested in the first part, which involved a lease and then purchase after seven years, with a €1.2 million investment and a number of jobs created.
Was that money spent and people employed, she asked, requesting a report.