Harney praises Mallow’s case for Government department

MALLOW made a very good case to secure a Government department in the upcoming decentralisation plan due to be revealed before the end of July, Tánaiste Mary Harney said yesterday.

The North Cork town will need 3,300 extra jobs by 2020, according to a new report on Mallow launched by Ms Harney yesterday.

She said the Cabinet has not yet made a final decision on what towns will get a decentralised Government department but Mallow had made a very good case for selection.

Asked if she would support Mallow's case at Cabinet, Ms Harney said: "I cannot speak personally because it will have to be a collective decision by Cabinet." But she urged business people to continue to lobby as it would ultimately be a political decision.

The campaign to secure a Government department will intensify later this month when the Taoiseach's programme manager, Gerry Hickey, addresses the Mallow Business Breakfast Club. Mr Hickey is a native of Mallow and a key adviser to Mr Ahern.

Praising the blueprint for Mallow's future development commissioned by the local Chamber of Commerce, Ms Harney said it was very ambitious and aimed to give people a good quality of life close to their work.

Local business people commissioned the Mallow strategy as they wanted to know how many people would be living there in 2020 and what their housing, jobs and educational needs would be, Cork North Enterprise Board manager Rochie Holohan said.

"No one wants to see Mallow just become a dormer town to Cork city we don't want to see another town devoid of a heart," Mr Holohan added.

Mallow Chamber of Commerce chairman Frank Nyhan said he was pleased with the designation of Mallow as a hub town and centre for development under the National Spatial Strategy. He said the chamber was trying to provide an impetus for future development. "The work involved is best described by the Irish word 'meitheal', the coming together of all local groups for the good of the community," he added. Mallow's application for a decentralised Government department would be well-rated because of its rail infrastructure and available land, Mr Nyhan said.

The blueprint for Mallow and its hinterland predicts the population will grow by over 9,000, that it will need 4,000 more houses and car ownership will rocket by 6,000.

The strategy's action plan says Mallow also needs a new business technology park, an upgraded industrial estate and a university/ IT outreach service.