‘No update’ on Fermoy’s vacant Business and Technology Park

A representative of the IDA has again been sought to attend a meeting of the Fermoy Municipal District to discuss their plans for the disused ‘Business and Technology Park’ on the Dublin Road.

The matter of the site, which has been open for over 20 years and is yet to see a tenant, was raised in a motion tabled by Cllr Noel McCarthy at Tuesday’s meeting of the Fermoy Municipal District.

In a recent statement issued to TheAvondhu, a spokesperson for IDA Ireland confirmed that there is ‘no update’ on the site. While back in October 2022, a spokesperson stated that their property division ‘ continues to work with all stakeholders to secure tenants for the Park’.

Recent times have seen arguments made for the site to be leased to Moore Park, a large employer and continuously expanding enterprise near the town. However, there has been no confirmation on whether such conversations between the enterprises have taken place.

The statement issued by IDA Ireland in October read: “Over recent years, IDA Ireland’s Property Division has ensured that client expectations have been met and location criteria satisfied in the context of delivering and identification of property solutions and/or infrastructural solutions to support the winning of new and expansion enterprise projects across IDA and Enterprise Ireland (EI) clients.

“IDA & EI client companies depend heavily on IDA Property Division to guide them through to finalisation in most of their property transactions and as such, IDA Property Division continues to work with all stakeholders to secure tenants for the Park,” it added.

Last week, IDA Ireland confirmed that there is ‘no update’ on the statement previously issued.

The Avondhu has also queried as to the measures being taken by IDA Ireland to secure tenants, however, no response has been received in relation to this query.

‘FERMOY IS NOT ON THEIR RADAR’

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Fermoy MD, Cllr Noel McCarthy said that councillors are ‘frustrated’ and the lack of development on site and said that it is also ‘upsetting the public’ to see the site not being used.

“I think it’s an ideal site for a hotel. That’s my personal opinion and other people have said that as well

“We’re waiting over 20 years and nothing is happening. To me, Fermoy is not on their radar and that’s my personal opinion. I think when the IDA are approached for development to come into Cork, they’re directing them to the city. I think Fermoy is the last place they mention because in 20 years there has been no progress whatsoever. It can’t continue,” Cllr McCarthy said.

Cllr McCarthy claimed that he recently received a phone call from a member of the public seeking warehouse space in Fermoy, as the individual had hoped to keep their business in the town, however, such space could not be found.

“Even if we had warehouses in it at this stage, we’d know we’d fill them and there would be a reason. This land cannot be allowed to sit there for the period it has sat there already and it can’t continue. It just can’t,” Cllr McCarthy added, as he asked that the council to write to the IDA Ireland, seeking a face-toface meeting to discuss future plans for the site.

ZONED LAND

Cllr Kay Dawson supported the motion, asking that a letter also be sent to the Minister for Enterprise for support on the issue.

Weighing in on the matter, Cllr William O’Leary said that it is his belief that the site should be put up for sale if it was not being used. He also pointed to recent difficulties that the Municipal District experienced in trying to rezone lands locally for industrial use, efforts which he alleged were ‘shot down’.

“One of those reasons was there is ample industrial land zoned within Fermoy. The problem with the industrial land in Fermoy that’s zoned is that we have a state agency that is just sitting on it and seem to be disinterested in it,” Cllr O’Leary said.

Cllr Deirdre O’Brien stated that she has recently attended a meeting in New York where she met with representatives from the IDA, focused on discussing their investment in the Cork area.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of the Fermoy MD, Cllr O’Brien said that she had raised the matter of the Fermoy IDA site and will be following up with the representatives to seek an update.

It was agreed that a letter would be issued to IDA Ireland seeking an in-person meeting regarding the vacant site.