I thank the Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the issue of IDA Ireland's objection to the granting of planning permission for a light industrial and commercial development at Woodstock, south Athy. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, for being present to deal with the issue.
The development in question involves the construction of 11 light industrial units and one office block on a site of approximately 17.8 acres at the edge of Athy, County Kildare. It is intended that the facility will accommodate a number of established local businesses in need of expansion space, together with a number of new enterprises badly needed in the area.
The site is appropriately zoned, having been included in the Athy area plan in 2000. The 17.8 acres is accessed by good quality road and is immediately adjacent to existing industrial premises, including an advance factory built by IDA Ireland at Woodstock industrial estate. Following the rezoning of the lands in 2000, the landowner and prospective developer, anxious to press ahead with the development of his lands, approached his neighbour, IDA Ireland. At issue was the matter of access to his property.
Until then, the landowner had an agreement with the IDA to access the lands for agricultural purposes but understood that approval from the authority as owners of the road was required in order to change this use. Following a series of contacts with IDA, it became apparent that it controlled not just the access road but also the other essential services — water and sewerage — none of which had been taken in charge by Athy Town Council, albeit that the road services had been in place for 25 years.
Following an on-site meeting with representatives of the IDA's property division, it was indicated to the landowner that the development authority would require a contribution in excess of £1 million for access to these services. Common sense prevailed, or appeared to prevail, because it was eventually agreed that if Athy Town Council took in charge the services at Woodstock industrial estate, there would be no basis for the IDA to demand a contribution from the proposed developer.
In early 2003, therefore, confident that all the issues had been resolved, or were on the way to being resolved, the aforementioned planning application was lodged with Athy Town Council. The council, by resolution at its meeting on 15 October 2003, agreed unanimously the taking in charge of Woodstock industrial estate. On 27 April 2004, the town council granted permission for the industrial and commercial development subject to 44 conditions which included a contribution of €822,825 towards the provision of services. Astonishingly, this decision to grant permission with its consequent positive implications for jobs in the area has been appealed by IDA Ireland to An Bord Pleanála.
I say astonishingly because Athy is a RAPID town. It was until recently County Kildare's unemployment blackspot and it continues to need the active support of Government agencies. There is a strong view in the area that the IDA has failed to fulfil its remit. While there is a widespread welcome for the fact that the long-built advance factory has now been occupied by DSG Packaging with 40 employees and the promise of 50 more, it is simply not enough. The last thing the people of Athy expected from the IDA was that it would intervene to prevent or delay jobs from coming on-stream in the town and area — hence my call on the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, DeputyHarney, to intervene.
The Tánaiste has shown herself to be a good friend to Athy and south Kildare. She has visited the area often and has resourced and supported the Athy investment and development forum, and the very successful FÁS training centre at Woodstock, which she opened in 2002. The indicators for Athy are good. In February 2003, the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, himself a proven friend of Athy, officially launched the town's Gateway industrial park on the Dublin road, and he returned in February of this year to turn the sod for Athy's new community enterprise centre. The centre, which will shortly be complete, consists of ten offices and workshop-type units, suitable for new and emerging business. It has been funded by Enterprise Ireland and the local community.
In recent years, local business, community and political leaders have worked hard to build up the morale of a town damaged by decades of recession and neglect. Athy is increasingly being seen as an ideal location in which to live, work and do business. New housing estates are being built around the town and the population is increasing. As decentralisation beckons, no State agency has a right to discourage or impede the creation of local job opportunities, least of all IDA Ireland.