Rural areas are not missing out on the jobs boom, says MIchael Noonan

Rural Ireland is not being left behind in a new jobs boom, according to Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

A new layer of rural industry was emerging, he said, adding that an integrated development plan for manufacturing industry was taking shape with multinationals moving into major centres of population and smaller industry growing in less-populated communities.

“If you take the multi-national agenda off the table and look at what’s happening in rural parishes, the seeds are being sown for a very strong indigenous base of both manufacturing and service industry, with the support of Enterprise Ireland and a new role for local authorities.”

He was speaking in Rathkeale, where DesignPro, a provider of precision automation, announced plans for 85 jobs to boost an existing 25. DesignPro is in a building previously occupied by Andersen, a cosmetic jewellery company which closed in 2013 with the loss of 170 jobs.

In a double boost for the West Limerick town, Mr Noonan also opened a 120,000sq ft enterprise centre, owned and operated by Innovate Limerick, a business development unit of Limerick City and County Council.

Acknowledging the gusto with which the council was aiding economic development through initiatives, the minister said the new centre — created from a vacant factory — had borne new jobs.

“This facility excellently represents the recovery in the Irish economy. Just two years ago, West Limerick was reeling from the news Andersen was to close, but, today, we have the opening of Rathkeale’s new Enterprise Centre, where DesignPro is located,” he said.

“The centre will be a facility that will be a stimulus for employment and innovation. However, to be able to open this facility with a local company announcing 85 new jobs over the coming years, makes this a red-letter day for Rathkeale. It is a bold statement that Rathkeale is not just open for business, but powering ahead in business.”

The DesignPro owner and founder, Paul Collins, said the company was at an exciting juncture.

“Our move into the new facility will enable us accelerate the growth trajectory we have been on over recent years,” he said.

Limerick City and County Council chief executive, Conn Murray, said what had been achieved with DesignPro was a result of structures and support innovation. Mike Cantwell, of Innovate Limerick, said: “When the Andersen facility closed, few would have thought that we would have a day like this just over two years later.”