Construction to begin on new IDA facility shortly
Mullingar Minister Peter Burke has welcomed an update from his colleague, Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney regarding the IDA Advanced Building Facility at Marlinstown, Mullingar, confirming that a contractor will be appointed in the coming weeks and the project will commence shortly.
The new building will have industrial and production spaces measuring 51,000 square feet in total and the Minister for European Affairs has said it will be a game-changer for attracting more investment and jobs into the town and the wider community.
“I was delighted to learn from Minister Coveney that the tendering process is almost complete and we will have a building contractor appointed shortly to get shovels in the ground and this important project for Mullingar underway," stated Minister Peter Burke.
“I have been raising the need for such a facility since my election in 2016, after talking to many businesses who were interested in setting up a base in the region but were looking for a building which was equipped and ready to go, rather than having to design a facility and apply for planning permission themselves.
"These processes can be lengthy and often unsuitable for companies who want to start trading in the short-term or require additional capacity for expansion as soon as possible.
“Mullingar in the past has been overlooked for these reasons so it is great that the Minister recognises this urgent need and is prioritising the project. Indeed, it was the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who was Minister in 2021 when the project was included in the IDA strategy and the IDA have long since recognised this is a weakness for certain locations.
"I met with the IDA in 2017 and again in 2019 to stress the need for an advanced factory/technology facility. We have a highly skilled workforce here, great connectivity to Dublin, good quality broadband and can offer workers a great quality of life.
“The Department have informed me that the IDA intend to appoint a contractor for the construction of the Advanced Building Solution in Q3 2023 with a view to commencing the development shortly thereafter.
“The IDA support a total of 22 businesses in Westmeath, with 3776 people employed directly and 3020 employed in spin-off jobs. The government are targeting increased employment in Westmeath in sectors which Ireland already has international recognition and credibility as an FDI location, such as technology, consumer business services, biopharmaceuticals, medical technologies, international financial services and engineering.
"We already have so many global and groundbreaking businesses here, there is no reason why Mullingar cannot be the next hub for robotics, pharmaceuticals and technology," stated Minister Burke.