Industry-ready site has lain idle for 14 years
The agency took over the site in Fermoy, Co Cork, from the Department of Defence after the closure of the army’s Fitzgerald Camp.
In 2002, the IDA created a new road into the site and serviced it with mains water, sewerage, and public lighting.
The IDA move created huge hopes of new industry locally.
However, Fine Gael councillor Noel McCarthy told a meeting of the council’s northern division nothing happened. Along with colleagues in Fermoy Town Council, they had eagerly awaited good news.
“In light of Brexit I think the IDA now surely has an ideal opportunity to get some foreign investment in there,” said Mr McCarthy.
“It’s an ideal site, very close to the motorway. It’s a fully serviced site but unfortunately has been unoccupied for some time and all it’s used for is grazing.
“I want us to write to the IDA and ask them to come and attend a meeting. We should also get our TDs to lobby the IDA.”
Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O’Flynn said he was aware the IDA brought companies to examine the site, without success.
He believed it would be ideal for a food- or dairy-related industry because one of the country’s premier agricultural research stations was situated closeby at Moorepark, Kilworth.
“Fermoy has tremendous facilities for people, such as sporting organisations, amenities and shops, and it would be an ideal location for a new industry,” he said. “It’s only two hours from Dublin and less than half an hour from Cork. It should be a place new industry would be attracted to.”
Fine Gael councillor Kay Dawson said Fermoy and adjoining villages were “crying out” for job creation.
Fianna Fáil councillor Ian Doyle said the estate must be utilised and not be allowed to continue unoccupied.
He said that, as chairman of the council’s northern division, he would write to the IDA seeking a meeting and to the minister in charge of job creation.
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