Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a happier story than some of the others we have had today. I am glad to be able to welcome it as well. It is important we take note of not only the views of the local authority and ourselves and our own examination but also the views of the Industrial Development Authority, IDA. The development of this land was regarded as essential to enable the IDA to attract foreign direct investment, FDI, to the Sligo region. That is a significant fact, not forgetting as well that local representatives made such strong efforts to get funding and to progress this. It has been ongoing since the mid-2000s. Planning through the Part 8 process was achieved in 2006, phase one was constructed in 2010, a compulsory purchase order for phase two was approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2011 and the notice to treat was subsequently served on landowners. It has been a long journey to get as far as we have. When I put forward the Department's submission as part of the capital review process in 2017, additional funding was sought to allow it go ahead. The extra funding allocated as part of the capital review process, and reflected in the national development plan, means the project is now being progressed to construction.

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