Hopes for ‘hundreds of jobs’ at tech park
Sod turned for Killagoley business park
IT WAS the culmination of a lot of hard work as the sod was turned on Enniscorthy’s new business and technology park at Killagoley on Friday evening.
Wexford County Council chairman Keith Doyle said that work was due to commence at the site next week and that he was delighted to see the contract for the project be awarded to local company Niall Barry.
‘This has the potential to bring hundreds of jobs to Enniscorthy,’ said Cllr Doyle. ‘ This is a very positive step and the future here promises to be a bright one.’
Construction of the first phase of the state-of-theart business park is expected to cost €1.7m.
Initially the park is to house three units, after which point County Council CEO Tom Enright said private investment will be sought. For the initial three units, Mr Enright says that ‘detailed discussions’ are already under way with two expanding local businesses, one of which is believed to be a major tech firm.
OFFICIALS from Wexford County Council, elected representatives, members of An Garda Síochána and representatives of Enniscorthy & District Chamber gathered in the shadow of the old St Senan’s Hospital at Killagoley on Friday for what is being heralded as the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the town.
There were plenty of smiling faces as council officials and local TDs officially turned the sod on phase one of the new Business & Technology Park, which will cost €1.7m.
CEO of Wexford County Council Tom Enright said that he is hopeful that, combined with other major projects such as the Flood Defence Scheme and the M11 bypass, the business park will provide just the shot in the arm Enniscorthy needs.
‘Midway between Wexford and Gorey, Enniscorthy perhaps hasn’t enjoyed the same prosperity as its neighbours in recent years,’ he said. ‘But it is a town with great potential and we’d hope that the business park will play a big part in a brighter future.’
The first phase of the construction will see the construction of an internal roadway, services, landscaping, fencing and walkways which will link in with the new bridge being constructed as part of the flood defence scheme to provide access to the town centre. All of this will service an initial three plots. Private investment will then be sought to construct industrial units within the park and negotiations are already well underway with at least two expanding local companies to locate there. While Mr Enright remained tight-lipped about who exactly these companies are, he said he would expect there to be two or three operational buildings in the park by the end of next year.
‘Three buildings will be constructed initially and we’re already in detailed discussions with two local companies who are growing and expanding,’ he said. ‘Basically, today we’re here to signify the start of getting the infrastructure in place. Planning should be lodged for the initial buildings by Autumn.’
While the Old Dublin Road has traditionally been the industrial heart of Enniscorthy, Mr Enright says that the new park will represent a much better option. ‘The Old Dublin road is that bit further from the town centre and it’s a mix of all things really,’ he said. ‘What we’re looking towards here is something more high-tech that might attract businesses that are not suited to the Old Dublin Road.’
County Council Chairman Keith Doyle said that work was due to commence at the site next week and that he was delighted to see the contract for the project be awarded to a local company in the form of Niall Barry & Co.
‘This has the potential to bring hundreds of jobs to Enniscorthy,’ said Cllr Doyle. ‘ This is a very positive step and the future here promises to be a bright one.’
Minister of State Paul Kehoe said he was over the moon to see the first step taken on the project.
‘It’s a great day for Enniscorthy,’ he said. ‘ This is the first part of a big change for the town. The tech park, the bypass and the flood relief are all part of a totally different Enniscorthy and will see more people come to live, work and raise their families here. I’d like to compliment the County Council on their foresight on buying this wonderful site. I think the people of Enniscorthy will see a real benefit from this.’
Deputy Browne shared his colleagues enthusiasm and said it was a sign that the town was finally grabbing the bull by the horns.
‘This is a game changer for the town,’ he said. ‘ This is a real sign that we’re finally using our own strengths and developing opportunities ourselves rather than waiting for some big factory to come in and save us. There are great benefits for the town in this project and I think it will bring a new confidence to the town for businesses, which is much needed.’
The business park is also slated to house a UN European Centre of Excellence for sustainable energy and nearly zero energy building, however, again Mr Enright said that the finer details of this were to be ironed out and he looked forward to a positive announcement down the line. As well as this, the old St Senan’s building is set to be revamped into luxury apartments, having been purchased by a company headed by Bree native Eamonn Galavan, completing a real facelift for the area.
All present at the sod-turning were feeling optimistic ahead of the project’s commencement and wished the contractors all the very best in delivering the project on time and under budget.