Construction of new IDA Offices in Waterford City will help to attract jobs and investment – Coffey

Fine Gael Waterford TD, Paudie Coffey, has welcomed news from the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, that the IDA has agreed contracts to deliver a new high spec building development in Waterford, which will be suitable for future IDA client investments.

Deputy Coffey added that the construction of the regional IDA offices – with one also being built in Athlone – is the first time since the early 1980s that IDA Ireland has funded and managed the construction of new office space.

“This investment will address one of the barriers identified by the IDA in attracting biomedical and pharmaceutical jobs to Waterford; the availability of high quality ‘clean-space’ required for such facilities.

“The new offices will be constructed at IDA Technology Park, Butlerstown, Cork Road, Waterford. The development will comprise of an advanced technology building of c. 2,348m². This additional high spec office capacity in Waterford City will now help to attract further IDA investments and job creation.  

“The South East Region suffered the greatest collapse in terms of employment during the economic downturn with unemployment reaching a peak of 20.1%.   But things are now improving; the South East recorded the fastest employment growth rate in the country last year, with 15,300 net jobs added.

“This construction project will create employment during the building phase and will be funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.    It is part of a commitment in the Jobs Action Plan 2014, and I would like to commend Minister Bruton for his work in delivering on this project. I am confident that this will lead to further jobs announcements for the City over the coming period.”

ENDS