Offaly TD wants rural councils to be given power to develop business parks
A Fine Gael TD in Offaly has said county councils in rural areas should be given the authority to develop their own enterprise parks.
Deputy John Clendennen argued that this would address "a critical gap in supports" for small and medium-sized rural businesses.
While the IDA Ireland has a role on behalf of the Government in developing enterprise parks targeting foreign direct investment, the local TD argued that other enterprise parks which were outside its remit ought to be put in place by county councils instead.
"Across rural Ireland there are family-run manufacturers, service providers and local employers who want to expand today, not in three or five years' time, but they cannot access the land or capital required to do it," said Deputy Clendennen.
He said he had discussed this with Minister for Enterprise, Peter Burke at a recent meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, saying that while the IDA "continues to play a vital role in attracting large-scale foreign direct investment, a significant structural issue persists at a level below the IDA’s remit, one that is holding back the economic potential of rural towns."
Deputy Clendennen pointed to "successful existing models, including Ferbane Business and Technology Park in Offaly, which supports industries ranging from food development to printing to childcare".
He said similar enterprise or industrial parks planned, developed, and facilitated by local authorities could provide serviced sites, modern facilities, and flexible commercial spaces for rural Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who currently fall between the cracks of national supports.
"Local authorities already have the planning expertise, the development experience, and a clear understanding of the needs in their own towns," he said.
"With the right backing, they can lead the development of enterprise parks that not only support job creation but also become long-term revenue generators for local authorities through rental income and commercial rates.
"This is a chance to rebalance opportunity between urban and rural Ireland. Enterprise parks in our small towns are not just an economic project, they're a lifeline.
"By empowering local authorities to lead, we can ensure that rural businesses are not left behind and that our towns have the chance to grow and thrive into the future," he added.