A Cabinet Minister has welcomed a new commercial project which will create jobs in the heart of Ireland.
Denis Naughten, Minister of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, has been working closely with the developer behind PriMe6, a new property development for the life sciences sector near Athlone, to ensure the project attracts international interest that will create hundreds of local jobs.
The modern design positions a seven-wing facility around a central core – a total area of 78,340 sq. ft., with potential to increase to more than 138,000 sq. ft. Partially built, the facility has full planning permission.
It is hoped agreement will be reached within 12 months for one or more companies to be based at the strategic Monksland site, creating more than 300 jobs. In addition, at least 80 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase. Work on the former Pharmaplaz Technology Park site – bought by Bobmar Ltd. in 2015 – will start once contracts have been agreed with companies, with units built to client specifications and requirements.
Minister Naughten said: “It is a very attractive and unique investment opportunity which will bring more than 300 jobs across the Lakelands region into the heart of Co. Roscommon and Athlone. There has been keen interest shown already from US and international operators but I also see an opportunity here for UK operators in light of Brexit. The site is a key strategic site just off the M6. With all the utilities in place combined with a skilled and willing workforce in the heart of the biapharma life sciences sectors in Ireland, it is ideally located.
“I have been working closely with the developer Robert Keane as well as Enterprise Ireland and the IDA on this project. PriMe6 will copperfasten Monksland and Roscommon as the home of the biapharma life sciences sectors in Ireland and the local workforce as leaders in this field. What is unusual about the cluster of pharmaceutical companies that already exists in this area of the Midlands is that they all work collaboratively with each other and they encourage other companies to come in. I am looking forward to PriMe6 being one of these companies.”
