In the announcement in April 1995 that the Government had decided in principle to locate the Dublin Science and Technology Park at the Citywest Business Campus on the Naas Road, the Minister of State with responsibility for Commerce, Science and Technology indicated the Government's belief that the considerable investment that had already taken place and the high quality design concept involved at that location provided an ideal opportunity to develop a science park, as recommended in the McKenna report, in a timely and cost effective manner.
In the event, discussions on the detailed feasibility study to be carried out between Citywest and an expert group comprised of the development agencies, my Department and the universities have proved very difficult, particularly in relation to the amount of funding being sought by the universities. The universities have now embarked on their own feasibility study and the Minister has invited them to further discussions when the conclusions of that study are available.
A number of prestigious companies have been attracted to the park including Xilinx, GEA-Tuchenhagen, Saturn Solutions and Viking Components. The choice of Citywest as a location by these companies is itself a vindication of its selection as the site for the Dublin science park, as they are precisely the type of companies that the science park concept is designed to attract.
Meanwhile a separate proposal for an innovation centre is being considered from the south Dublin chamber of commerce and the Tallaght Regional Technical College with the assistance of Forbairt.
