Leitrim could see 500 new jobs in coming years from €3 million investment

The purchase of the former MBNA building in Carrick on Shannon was one of the best strategic decisions for the region, the Dáil has heard, and will bring 500 new jobs to Leitrim.

Deputy Frankie Feighan said the build cost of that campus is estimated at close to €44 million, and it is now in the ownership of the local authority at a cost of less than €6 million.

“The county council has a fund of close to €3 million to allow the expansion, recalibration and refurbishment of the campus, with the potential to bring 500 jobs over the next three to four years. This will happen,” he said.

Speaking during a Dáil debate on rural future policy, Deputy Feighan noted that the Minister's Department has invested €54.9 million in Leitrim and €41.8 million in County Sligo since 2017.

“That is nearly a record €100 million. I want to highlight that Minister Humphreys is in favour of smaller and weaker counties like Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon and others. If it was depending on population numbers, they would be at the bottom of the list in terms of funding,” Deputy Feighan said.

He said he wanted to acknowledge the changes that came in recent years, which began through the likes of Deputy Ó Cuív, who introduced the CLÁR programme.

It then took on pace when Deputy Ring, as Minister of State, expanded the programmes, he said.

“The Deputy eventually became the first person to hold the position of Minister for Rural and Community Development in Cabinet. I acknowledge our current Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, who recognised the need to give the area of rural development its own Department with a full Minister.

Deputy Ring can be proud of his record from 2016 to 2020 and of the funding he was able to deliver across so many schemes.

“These delivered deep into some of the smallest and most rural communities in Ireland. Bringing us up to the present day, the development and groundwork done by her predecessor only accelerated the ambition of Minister Humphreys, to deliver even more across rural communities,” Deputy Feighan said.

He said Minister Humphreys’ Department may have one of the smallest budgets, but it invests its money wisely.

“I conclude by saying keep it up Minister. Rural Ireland, north Roscommon, south Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim are feeling the benefit. I know it and I thank the Minister for the interest she has in smaller and less populated areas, giving them the leg up they richly deserve and appreciate,” Deputy Feighan said.