Council seek ‘positive’ IDA impact for county

Seamus Enright

It was with a degree of hope that the presentation of IDA officials to the elected members of Cavan County Council concluded recently, but as Fine Gael's Paddy O'Reilly summed matters up: “The last [IDA representative] came with great great hope and ambition. That was five years ago. In those years what was promised hasn't arrived. In short, nothing has happened, absolutely nothing,†the Virginia representative scolded, before adding his own expectations. They included that it would not be another five years before Agency staff were scheduled to appear before the Council, and it would be to announce a positive outcome in terms of attracting foreign direct investment locally.

The meeting had looked set to spark off as a slinging match, but developed more convivially with IDA regional business development manager John Nugent and IDA head of regions Anne-Marie Tierney-Le Roux. Armed to the teeth with anecdotal evidence of the IDA's failure to deliver for Co Cavan, dismal site visits record, and no new major industry since Pauwel Trafo in the mid-1970s, the IDA pair skilfully disarmed potential flashpoints.
They clearly outlined that it was not up to the IDA alone where new businesses entering Ireland choose to set-up, and noted that more was being done to sell regions outside of Dublin.
With 244 investments by IDA companies in 2016, 99 of which were new names to Ireland Mr Nugent addressed the “stubborn†level of 1,200 jobs locally in Cavan by IDA sponsored companies, estimating that for every 10 jobs there was a knock on of eight more in the local economy.
He said too that the challenge is to promote the Border region in a “positive pro-business†light when faced with the UK's impending exit from the EU.
The “turbulent and uncertain†environment Mr Nugent commented was “not good†for attracting new companies who at the present time are watching now things develop, but Ms Tierney-Le Roux told Cllrs the IDA is working and ready to capitalise where any such opportunities arise.
“We are working hard on what we've got and are looking to expand on that,†she said, as it emerged the IDA, with Cavan County Council had renewed interest in marketing the available space at the business park at Killygarry for future use, complete with fresh conceptual planning permission.
From the floor it's fair to say that while sceptical, given the IDA's record of delivery for the county and region, councillors were in main positive about what could be achieved.
While Fianna Fáil's John Paul Feeley mocked the idea that new jobs in Louth boosted prospects for the majority of Cavan, stating: “We need to sell what we do haveâ€.
The barriers of old regarding infrastructure in Cavan, broadband and links to Dublin were also tossed on the pyre by many members, who said those “tired arguments†don't hold much sway around these parts any more.

Legacy issues

Noel Connell of Sinn Féin pointed to legacy issues within how the IDA seemingly views the county, recollecting a total of zero visits under the stewardship of former CEO Barry O'Leary.
Ms Tierney-Le Roux in response was quick to point out the apparent changing of the guard, exemplified by the June meeting by current IDA chief Martin Shanahan with an appointed council delegation.
Fine Gael's Winston Bennett meanwhile queried whether alerts issued for suitable sites to cater for proposed regional data centres, capable of backing up new tech companies, would be hampered should there be further hold-ups in Eirgrid's controversial North-South Interconnector process.
Lastly, fellow party member Peter McVitty queried whether, during any visits to the county, had IDA representatives travelled to the west of the county which he pointed out hosts a significant portion of the region's industrialised business. They hadn't, but Ms Tierney-Le Roux assured that the IDA's Commercial Property Division had a “keen handle†on what was and is available to them.
The conclusion was left to Council CEO Tommy Ryan who noted there was work to do with regard the Killygarry site, and also in taking advantage of marketing the county.
One such proposal was to develop a county website for such purposes and this would be “looked into†while he said it was important “to say something positive about Cavanâ€.
“We have the lands, the people, the talent pool and all the rest. We will build on it from there.â€