THE SHANNON region was not even in the running for the 900 Kerry Group jobs announced last week – because the airport does not have the required connectivity. And its a revelation that’s given added urgency to the separation of the airpot from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and the immediate establishment of an independent Shannon board.
Kerry Group Head of Corporate Affairs, Frank Hynes, told the Limerick Post that only three airports were considered as having the requisite connectivity and Shannon was not one of them.
“It was always the intention to have one campus where all our key innovation could take place, and this had to be adjacent to the major international airport,” Mr Hayes said.
Other airports which were considered in deciding the location were Schiphol in Amsterdam and Heathrow, he revealed.
Limerick Chamber of Commerce President, Gordon Kearney, said that connectivity was a factor that highlighted the urgent need for an independent Shannon.
“If there is any opportunity to attract jobs here – and the airport plays a role in that – we must not lose those opportunities. It’s my understanding that the task force will present a business plan within the next two weeks and then the separation must happen immediately. Discussions with airlines have to happen now if we are to secure routes for next year. It can’t happen overnight”.
Limerick’s Mayor, Gerry Mc Loughlin, said that he has “confidence in the three chambers of commerce and the Shannon Task Force. I am aware of the potential of the airport and I feel that instead of criticizing the efforts that are being made, we should be making positive suggestions”.
Meanwhile the IDA has reacted to media criticism of an uneven geographical spread for job creation. Figures for the IDA’s performance from 2002 to 2011 reveal Limerick as the county that suffered the worst unemployment at IDA-supported companies, losing 4,036 jobs in the past decade.
In a statement to the Limerick Post, the IDA said that the period “has been very challenging for Limerick with the significant loss of jobs at Dell coupled with IDA losing its ability to grant aid at the end of 2008″.
“From January 2011 to date, IDA has announced 12 projects with jobs potential of 950 jobs including Extensys, Gilt Group, Glass Lewis, Northern Trust and Analog Devices”.
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