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PROPERTIES belonging to
the IDA around Inishowen and countywide are to be
transferred to Donegal County Council.
The deal is part of a new initiative to enhance
economic development in the county.
The agreement will allow Donegal local authorities
to develop commercial lands and buildings to benefit
local enterprise and community projects within the
respective areas.
Under the agreement, IDA Ireland is making its
property portfolio available for wider commercial
use, by transferring ownership of its buildings at
Carndonagh, Buncrana Milford, Donegal Town and
Ballyshannon to Donegal County Council. It is
intended the partnership will facilitate
entrepreneurship as well as local and community
enterprise. Similar programmes have been progressed
with other local authorities throughout the country.
The deal will also enable IDA Ireland to continue
promoting Donegal through its strategic business
park in Letterkenny.
The partnership was announced by Tánaiste and
Education Minister Mary Coughlan.
She said: “Today’s announcement is a positive
development for Donegal County. Given the diverse
nature of our economy, it is important that
multinationals and SME’s, both indigenous and
foreign, are supported to enable enhanced regional
economic development.
“This agreement will create scope for balanced
economic development in Donegal by allowing
properties less suitable for foreign direct
investment to be made available to local and
community enterprise. It demonstrates the
Government’s commitment to work with public bodies,
IDA, Enterprise Ireland and local authorities to
deliver economic development across the region
through joined-up thinking.”
Enterprise Ireland Border Region Director Conor Fahy
said: ”Having a ready base of suitable properties is
critically important and can be instrumental in
allowing new enterprises get into business rapidly
and existing SMEs stay local and expand. We have a
very strong SME sector in Donegal, including
companies like E&I Engineering, EK Marine and
McKinneys.”
Meanwhile, IDA North West regional manager, Joe
McHugh added: ”By making smart use of our property
portfolio, IDA is enabling Team Ireland to support a
wider range of businesses, SME and multinationals,
both indigenous and foreign. Letterkenny has been
successful in winning investments from companies
such as Pramerica Systems Ireland, United Health,
SITA and Zeus by being able to provide a world class
business infrastructure with a high quality of life.
”IDA is strengthening its commitment to Donegal
through further investment in its Letterkenny
business parks and will continue to proactively
market the attractiveness of the region to foreign
investors.” |
