Connemara Marine Park will aid jobs blackspot
Plans for a new marine innovation park in an unemployment blackspot in County Galway have been unveiled.
Páirc na Mara (sea park) will be developed by Údarás na Gaeltachta at a nine hectares’ greenfield site in Cill Chiaráin in South Connemara.
Údarás, the regional body tasked with the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht, estimate an investment of between €3m-€5m would be needed for “initial development costs”.
This injection, Údarás said, “in turn would create the potential to attract multiples of that state funding in private investment from locating companies.”
It is envisaged that the development of marine related facilities and infrastructure will support the expansion and development of the marine resource in West Connemara.
Údarás predicts it will become a key enabler for the development of the overall marine industry in Cill Chiaráin and also at a regional and national level.
Visions for the site include: fish hatchery/on grow unit; seawater holding facility; research and development units; freshwater supply and storage; a slipway or pier; value-added projects; enterprise units and business incubations units for start-up companies; and dedicated office space and workshop space for marine related industry.
Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta said: “It is encouraging that the first steps of this project are now being taken for the benefit of the community and the region. We envisage that Páirc na Mara will be an attractive and secure place for investment and will help in the efforts to confirm to the world that Ireland is open for business as a green and marine economy in line with Harnessing Ocean Wealth – An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland.”
The innovation centre will include a variety of marine related activities, where productive sector enterprises, public bodies, state development agencies and the research community will work together to add value to their products and services and to maximise the development potential of the marine sector in the region.
Údarás has engaged a group comprising of key strategic partners such as the Marine Institute, BIM, Galway County Council, the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, third level institutes, NUIG and GMIT, to formulate plans.
It hopes that the organisations can collaborate to develop a modern marine innovation park to help drive the growth of the sector and enable economic growth in the area, thus providing productive employment for future generations in this rural Gaeltacht area.
Carna and Cill Chiaráin are areas, which recent Census figures and other reports have termed as being disadvantaged and in need of support and employment.
Údarás is currently looking for expressions of interest from potential project promoters in the marine sector who may be interested in establishing a presence at Páirc na Mara which will assist in preparing a suitable development plan for the site.
An tÚdarás has funded preparatory and enabling works on the development site and aim for this area to be identified as a prime location for consolidating, preserving, and growing Ireland’s ocean trade, maritime industries and industrial uses.
Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development, Seán Kyne welcomed the progress. He said the €3million plus investment is a key action under the ‘Stimulating Regional Growth’ objective of the 2017 Action Plan for Jobs and also the ‘Realising Our Rural Potential’ Action Plan for Rural Ireland.
The Fine Gael Galway West TD added: “This development is very significant for Connemara and the West of Ireland. The marine sector is indigenous to Connemara and is one of its competitive advantages. The provision of top class facilities in a low carbon innovation park, which will be carefully designed to complement the local landscape, will build on the existing local marine-based development which provides employment for the local communities.”