Up to 100 jobs predicted at Ennis ‘Centre of Excellence’

MOVES are underway by a “global leader” to create a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in Ennis with an employment boost of up to 100 jobs predicted.

While the Council has not revealed the name of the company involved, it is understood that Vitalograph is behind the proposal.

Liam Conneally, director of economic development with Clare County Council has described the plans as “exciting”.

In order to bring the plans to fruition, the council are set to sell a building at the Ballymaley Business Park on the Gort Road for €1.2 million to the company.

The sale of the property is to be brought before a full meeting of Clare County Council next week for approval.

Ennis Municipal District councillors already voiced their support for the plans at their monthly meeting.

The building at Block B in the Ballymaley Business Park had been acquired by the council in 2020 for the development of touchdown space for Foreign Direct Investment and the development of innovation space to attract companies to the county and the region.

Earlier this year planning approval had been given that would allow the space to be used as an enterprise and innovation centre and design drawings have been prepared.

At the Ennis council meeting Carmel Greene, senior executive officer, outlined increasing construction costs and the changing economic climate, including more people working from home, saw the council decide to embark on an expressions of interest process to determine the level of interest in taking space and creating jobs in the high tech sector in the building.

There were a number of enquiries and one expression of interest.

The interested company has submitted a proposal with “many benefits for Ennis”, according to a report by Mr Conneally submitted to councillors.

This includes, “employment creation of between 70 and 100 highly skilled jobs, early investment in the refurbishment of the building and significantly the creation of a Centre of Excellence”.

The proposal also involves technology transfer from overseas R&D facilities to Ennis which is in line with the council’s original intentions for the property, he added.

Ms Greene commented this proposal is an “exciting result” which will see economic benefits from a building that had been “sitting idle”.

Welcoming the plans, Mayor of Ennis Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy stated, “This is very positive for Ennis going forward.”

Councillor Johnny Flynn stated it was “great to see the vision of Clare County Council” in supporting the development of enterprise buildings “rather than just smaller hubs”.

He said the IDA has “failed” Ennis in not providing an Advanced Technological Building in the county capital and Clare County Council has “stepped up” to fill this gap.

The councillor urged that funds released from the sale of the property be reinvested in the development of further enterprise buildings, suggesting the Clare Technological Park as a potential location.

Councillor Pat Daly described the announcement as “fantastic news”.