Noel McCarthy asks for update on idle IDA site in Fermoy
Noel McCarthy pressed the Taoiseach in the Dail about the long-vacant IDA site at the former Fitzgerald Camp in Fermoy and asked for an update on proposals. The Taoiseach said he will engage with the IDA again and acknowledged that 24 years is a long time for the site to remain empty.
Site history and concern
Noel McCarthy set out the issue: an IDA-owned service site near the Cock Dublin motorway, on the undergrounds of the former Fitzgerald Camp Army Barracks, has had no tenants since it was handed to the IDA nearly 24 years ago. There have been no recent expressions of interest to operate on site, leaving local residents and businesses disappointed.
Request for clarity
McCarthy reminded the Taoiseach that he raised the matter earlier in January and sought clarity on the development potential. He asked whether the IDA has any current proposals or plans under consideration and thanked the Taoiseach for his previous interest.
Government response and stakes
The Taoiseach replied that he would engage again with the IDA to see if there are different plans, noting the need for patience but acknowledging the length of time the site has sat idle. He added that attracting an FDI company to the site would be a significant boost to Fermoy but warned that alternative uses might close off that prospect.
Local impact
McCarthy framed the issue as one of local economic importance for Fermoy and the wider Blackwater region, underlining the potential benefits of investment and the community's frustration at the prolonged vacancy.
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Taoiseach, I have raised this matter on several occasions since my election to the House. It concerns the idle IDA site in Fomoy, undergrounds of the former Fitzgerald Camp Army Barracks. Although it's a service site close to the Cock Dublin motorway, it has unfortunately remained without tenants for nearly 24 years now, since being handed over to the IDA. In addition, there have been no recent expressions of interest to operate on site. This continues to be a major disappointment to the people of Fomoy and the Blackwater region, given that the site would appear to be a perfectly suited site for investment. I did highlight this fact with Taoiseach as recently as January, where he responded to say that he is familiar with the site and would talk to the IDA and seek clarity on its development potential. Can I therefore ask Taoiseach if there is any update from the IDA and possible proposals being considered? And I want to thank you, Taoiseach, for the interest you've taken already. Thank you. Well, first of all, I thank you, Deputy, again, for raising this. And I did, I think, on the last occasion say to you that sometimes we have to be patient. But 24 years is a long time, I accept that. And very often it depends. Like the IDA will bring people to various sites. And it's up to companies, ultimately, to decide on the location in any particular site. But I will engage again with the IDA to see, have there any different plans for the site? But I think it would be a big boost to Fermoy if we could attract an FDI company to that particular site. It would make a significant difference to the economy of Fermoy. So that's the balance. You could use it for something else maybe, an indigenous and so on, but then you would cut off the prospect maybe of an FDI investment. Thank you, Taoiseach.
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