More high tech and industrial jobs needed in Leitrim say councillors

Cllr Paddy Farrell called on Leitrim County Council "to make every effort in 2024 to contact the IDA and Enterprise Ireland with a view to bringing high tech industrial jobs to Mohill and Carrick-on-Shannon to keep our young people at home as both towns are ideally located to road and rail networks."

He was speaking at the most recent Carrick-on-Shannon municipal district meeting. 

A report by the Economic Development section said that Leitrim County Council are "very conscious of the need to attract sustainable jobs to both Carrick and Mohill to provide employment opportunities for all age cohorts in Leitrim and is actively seeking a meeting with the IDA in early 2024 at which the existing lands and facilities within the county to attract and sustain an IDA investment will be discussed in conjunction with the wider benefits that Leitrim has to offer. 
"The Local Enterprise Office are in continuous discussions with Enterprise Ireland and are meeting the Enterprise Ireland Regional manager in late January to discuss the work programme for 2024."

IDA Ireland has appointed Leitrim man, Michael Lohan, as its new chief executive.

Cllr Enda Stenson said that he felt it would be beneficial for Mr Lohan to attend the full council meeting. 
"We have some fine buildings here, particularly in Carrick, that are vacant at the moment," he said.

Cllr Thomas Mulligan supported the motion and said the council are "doing quite a bit with regards to regeneration in Mohill and there have been some very commendable developments there such as the Enterprise Centre" and "great facilities put in place".

He added that there was a need for jobs in the county "let it be high tech or whatever; we'll take anything that comes."

Cllr Sean McGowan also supported the motion and remarked that public realm works in Mohill "will leave it looking very well" and commended the Town Team. 

He welcomed the recently announced development planned for Lough Rynn Castle Estate which will consist of the construction of three extensions at the existing hotel to provide 51 additional guest bedrooms (increasing the total accommodation to 95 guest bedrooms), a restaurant, leisure centre, spa and treatment rooms.

He concluded, "We do need some industry and both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland should be contacted to push for it."

Cllr Des Guckian said that the council should be supporting the "revival of the building industry and also the agriculture industry to improve employment available in the county." 

Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire supported the suggestion to have Mr Lohan come and meet with council members. 
"With the N4 coming through and good rail services from Dromod to Carrick, we're just updating him on what's here and giving him the enthusiasm for the county that he already has."

Cllr Stenson complimented the council on the work it's doing to promote the county. 

Justin Fannon, Leitrim County Council, added that Mr Lohan attended a business meeting in Dublin prior to Christmas, at which the IDA man spoke. 
"There were 100 Leitrim people there and business people from Dublin; the Leitrim Dublin Business Network it's called." 

He said that Joseph Gilhooly, Chief Executive (Interim) at Leitrim County Council gave a presentation on Leitrim and "what's happening and what's available and Mr Lohan was very interested."

He said that an invitation can be sent to Mr Lohan to ask him to come to Leitrim County Council to meet with members.