Ballina must be prioritised for IDA Advance Unit – Calleary

Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo Dara Calleary is calling on the IDA to build an “advance unit” in Ballina in order to increase the town’s potential to attract foreign direct investment.  The agency has supported the construction of similar units in Athlone, Letterkenny and Waterford, but the western region has been left out of all plans to date.

Deputy Calleary commented, “Despite the most recent IDA figures pointing to the agency increasing the number of clients and jobs it has brought to the West, Ballina is not seeing a sustained investment drive, and is in danger of being left behind.  Infrastructure in the region needs to be updated and improved in order to attract more overseas business.

“The IDA has already built advance units in Athlone, Letterkenny and Waterford, and a similar initiative for Ballina is needed.  These units are ready to go business structures, which have all the necessary utilities and access to allow companies move in and begin manufacturing almost immediately.

“Ministers have failed to recognise that although major cities like Dublin may be feeling the effects of a recovery that sentiment has not yet reached all parts of the country, and Ballina is one of the areas still attempting to get back on an even keel.  Without a strategic investment plan, supported by an IDA advance unit, the town’s full potential is being jeopardised.

“This regional imbalance is the hallmark of the Fine Gael-Labour Government’s jobs blueprint and unless it is addressed, economic development in Mayo will continue to underperform and the scope for further job creation will be lost”.

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