Longford council officials to meet with IDA about advance factory

The meeting came to light in response to a notice of motion by Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus Butler.

Cllr Butler called on the local authority to make provisions for a “suitably serviced site” in the Longford Town area in the Capital Budget to assist the construction of an IDA Advanced Industrial Facility.

The motion, seconded by Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi, related to a commitment by the State agency to provide a “ready to go” factory space to entice business to establish operations in the county.

Cllr Peggy Nolan (FG) asked if the motion was in line with meeting protocols, “That notice of motion has appeared before us on at least four other occasions by other councillors. Is there a relevant gap?”

Cllr Nolan referenced a meeting with the IDA a couple of years ago, “We were told that when we had a site they would fill it.”
Addressing the Fine Gael elected representative's query, the meeting administrator, Claire McNabola, explained, “The notice of motion raised by Cllr Butler is different in that it is asking provision to be made specifically in the capital budget. It is different from previous motions.”

Director of Services Michael Nevin outlined the local authority's response to Cllr Butler's notice of motion, “The IDA considered a number of site options in 2022. Primarily sites in the Longford town area. The IDA remains committed to the project and is meeting with the executive in the coming weeks with a view to progressing it.

“Any capital commitment required in relation to the site can be determined in a discussion with the IDA and subject to the approval of the elected members to be provided the capital budget '23 to '25. Any delays are primarily due to changes in personnel on the IDA side,” Mr Nevin said.

The Director of Services said IDA officials have scheduled a meeting with the local authority for February 8. “They are anxious to progress the project in the first half of the year. In relation to the site, we have put forward a number of site options. One is in our ownership, others are in private ownership. We believe there is scope for the IDA to buy the parcel of land if they decide to build on the privately owned site.”

In 2021 the IDA signalled their intention to deliver a special site to attract major manufacturing or businesses firms to Longford. At the time they flagged that the Advanced Technology Building would be ready by 2024.

Since then the State agency responsible for attracting and retaining inward foreign direct investment supported plastic injection moulding company Technimark with their €26 million expansion of the medical manufacturing facility on the Ballinalee Road.

Cllr Martin Monaghan asked if the IDA owned any sites in the county at present. Mr Nevin said they do not own any land at present, but there is scope to purchase land.