Lack of progress on €300m media campus raised with Minister Donohoe
MEMBERS of the East Wicklow Business Network (EWBN) hosted a meeting with Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe at the Greystones Municipal District Offices, when the Minister visited the town on Thursday, May 9.
They were joined by the EWBN Committee members Mark Atkins, Gordon O’Neill, Feargal McKenna and Paul McKnight.
The local business network highlighted key concerns local businesses have to contend with, regarding economic development and infrastructure challenges in Greystones and the surrounding areas.
The first item on the agenda was the stalled plans for the much-vaunted €300m media campus, which was earmarked for a 44-acre site and was expected to open in 2024.
This would greatly boost Ireland’s creative economy and generate substantial local employment and the EWBN urged the Minister to seek clarification on the project’s status and secure investor commitment, or explore alternative uses for the site if necessary.
Business owners in the town were also keen to highlight the importance of fair distribution of commercial rates, advocating for proactive engagement and transparent allocation of funds by the county councils. The Minister was asked to encourage county councils to release annual breakdowns of funds collected and distributed to ensure investment matches local needs.
Another issue that was raised was that of the Cliff Walk and whether any improvements to the town’s rail service were forthcoming.
The closure of the Cliff Walk due to coastal erosion has impacted local retailers, while train cancellations have caused dissatisfaction among businesses. The EWBN requested that the government develop a cohesive plan to preserve this key attraction while ensuring a safe, reliable rail service.
Minister Donohoe said he recognised the significance of these issues and committed to providing updates on the progress.
He was confident that the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), the Government body involved in the transaction, would have stringently reviewed the business plan for a project such as the Media Campus and was likely to have legally binding commitments from private enterprise that have benefited from their support.
He emphasised the government’s interest in supporting economic growth in the region and the vital role businesses play in achieving this.
He also noted the significant need for Ireland to secure its own energy security and expressed the economic opportunity for the country was substantial with renewable energy being akin to, if harnessed correctly, the benefits the country receives from FDI, and added that communities could benefit greatly from the development funds being created around the renewable energy projects.
The East Wicklow Business Network will continue advocating for the business community, striving to foster relationships that benefit the economy of Greystones and the surrounding areas.
The East Wicklow Business Network can be contacted at hello@wicklowbusiness.ie and its services can be viewed on wicklowbusiness.ie.