Office staff move breaches planning, Dairygold told

THE Dairygold Co-op has been told its controversial proposal to relocate 120 office staff at Cork Airport Business Park is in breach of planning.

Cork county manager Maurice Moloney yesterday said the initial view of council officials was such a move would not be in line with existing planning legislation.

He said the company had been informed of the decision and was taking legal advice.

Mr Moloney made his comments following a council meeting yesterday at which Cllr Kevin O'Keeffe said the County Development Plan stipulates companies seeking to operate from the business park have to be involved in airport-related activities.

Dairygold plans to move all 'back office' staff from Mitchelstown and Mallow into offices at the business park, which were occupied by airline JetMagic. That company went into liquidation in January with the loss of more than 100 jobs.

"I believe what Dairygold is trying to do totally contravenes the County Development Plan. The reason it is dedicated to companies which are involved in airport-related activity is to prevent other industries from moving out of their own areas," Mr O'Keeffe said.

"As far as I'm concerned the Dairygold office staff have nothing to do with airport-related activities."

Mr O'Keeffe said many workers wouldn't relocate, accusing Dairygold of seeking redundancies by stealth.

Earlier this week the company informed Cork County Council of its intention to move offices.

A Dairygold spokesman said the cost of moving into the offices at the business park would be far less than acquiring suitable land in north Cork and building a new central office block.

He said the company planned to complete the move before the end of the year. Office staff earmarked for transfer deal with credit control, accounts, wages and secretarial services.

Human resources and information technology staff are also expected to move.

Mr O'Keeffe said if the plan was allowed to proceed it would be another economic blow to the area.

Cllr Liam O'Doherty, who also questioned the move, said it would be "bad news for Mitchelstown".

A Dairygold spokesman said: "We will be investigating the matter before making any further comments."