Tanaiste Leo Varadkar says he’s confident there will be another announcement of further IDA-supported jobs in Portlaoise within the next year.
Speaking during a visit to Greenfield Global in Portlaoise, a Canadian company and global leader in the production of ethanol and high-purity speciality alcohols, he said that discussions are ongoing with IDA officials.
“I would be confident there would be at least one announcement this year,” he said before adding the proviso, “but you just never know”.
Greenfield currently employ 35 people in their facility in Portlaoise Enterprise Park on the Mountrath Road – and have plans to grow that.
“They’re a company investing in Ireland, investing in Laois,” added the Tanaiste who also holds the portfolio of Minister for Trade and Enterprise.
“Really impressed with the (Greenfield) investment. They’re continuing to hire and have an option on more land here with the potential to expand in the future.
“I’m very keen to get more jobs and investment into the county. I’m very conscious that it’s a county with a growing population.”
“Enterprise Ireland and IDA can be pushed more and they are being pushed more by me as Minister.
“What works best is collaboration with the local authority and the Government agencies working together.
“And in fairness Laois County Council has really put up its hand and done well in recent years and we’ve recognised that. A huge part of it is the infrastructure which is important
“I think having Greenfield here really helps. when we’re doing site visits, which we weren’t able to do for ages because of the pandemic, but now they’re back on.
“If another multi national investor sees that somebody is set up working successfully it’s much easier to convince them to make that investment.
“Also the midlands in general will benefit from the fact that Dublin is very full and very congested and very expensive. Costs are a bit lower here in terms of labour costs and housing costs and that is a potential advantage.”
“I was very pleased as a member of Government from 2014 to 2020 in the initial stages in ensuring Portlaoise was marketed with the results of plants like Greenfield Global and also Glanbia – greenfield plants have been converted into places of employment and production,” said Deputy Charlie Flanagan.
“That collaboration is continuing. We had here this morning senior officials from the IDA and I meet regularly with senior officials from Enterprise Ireland.
“The message post Covid is that Portlaoise … is very much open for business.”
“Greenfield Global have been a real success story in Laois,” added Cathaoirleach Conor Bergin.
“Delighted to have them. Moving on to Junction 17 after this which is 70 acres just adjacent to the Portlaoise Plaza owned by Pat McDonagh where so far 325 jobs have been created in the last four years.
“This is a park that was grassland only four years ago. Another 220 under discussion at the moment.
“I think it is a real Laois success story and definitely to pay tribute to Laois County Council – huge investment they have put in. €6 million over the last couple of years.
“As Charlie (Flanagan) has been saying, in Laois we want to bring jobs to the people not people to jobs and that’s what we’ve really done here.
“These are skilled jobs in the life sciences sector particularly and Greenfield Global were an integral part of the supply chain all throughout the pandemic.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have them here.”
“I set that target of having 2.5 million people at work in Ireland by 2024 which would be an all time record,” Varadkar also said.
“And I want that to be in all parts of Ireland not just in the cities. I think we are making good progress in that regard.
“More than half of the new IDA investments last year were outside of Dublin. 67% of Enterprise Ireland jobs were outside of Dublin too. That’s important.”
