Jobs boost is a walk in the Parcs..

THE long-neglected Midlands are finally to get a jobs boost – and about time too.

It’s great news that 750 builders from brickies to carpenters will find work on the new Centre Parcs holiday village in Longford.

And another 1,000 permanent employees will then be hired once the centre is up and running next year.

While Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway saw the benefits of the recovering economy, nothing much changed in the Midlands. Until now.

The €230million project will be the shot in the arm the area so badly needs. Counties like Longford have suffered from emigration and lack of investment for decades.

The attraction, which will have up to 500 lodges, 150 indoor and outdoor activities, restaurants, a spa and pools, opens in summer 2019.

The forest holiday village will have capacity for up to 2,500 guests and the firm said many of the jobs will be filled by locals aged between 18 and 24.

It will be worth around €32million to Ireland’s GDP and boost Co Longford’s economy by €20million each year.

The knock-on effect too will be a huge boost to the area – and it will be open 365 days a year.

January can be a tough month for many but at least for the good folk of Co Longford, things are looking up.