• €15.5m investment supports approved for SFZ companies leveraging €57m in investments
• €9.6 million invested in property solutions for foreign and indigenous companies
• Shannon Development’s tourism campaigns yield almost 600,000 additional bed night, generating €47m visitor spend.
• New Limerick Development Division established to promote Greater Limerick Area
• Shannon Development own tourism generated initiatives produce significant results – 38 tourism deals signed
• Shannon Development becomes the first state agency in Ireland to use Sat Nav to map tourist attractions & accommodation.
• €4 million project at Tipperary Technology Park near completion
• €3 million Tarbert E-Town project completed
Shannon Free Airport Development Company, or Shannon Development as its known today, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009. To mark this milestone, Shannon Development held a National Conference, called ‘Dynamic Regions – Future Directions in Regional Development,’ in November 2009. The Conference was attended by a large gathering of business and civic leaders who engaged in stimulating analysis and debate on future directions in Irish regional development.
The keynote speaker was Mary Coughlan T.D., Tánaiste, and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, followed by an expert panel of national and international speakers, leaders in their fields, including Christina Diegelmann, Senior Policy Coordinator on ‘Economy and Regional Development’ for the Assembly of European Regions. The Assembly is the largest independent network of European regions, bringing together 270 regions from 33 countries.
Shannon Development approves €15.5 investment supports for SFZ companies
Shannon Development approved €15.5 million in financial supports to Shannon Free Zone companies in 2009. This support leveraged €57 million in investments, the largest of these was a €50 million R&D investment by Intel at Shannon Free Zone.
Breaking this down, 13 Shannon Free Zone companies received Shannon Development support across key areas such as R&D, management development, international marketing supports and training. These supports illustrate Shannon Development’s commitment to enable Free Zone companies prepare for the global economic recovery.
Further 10% increase in in-house R&D expenditure at Shannon Free Zone
In-house R&D expenditure generally by Shannon Free Zone companies saw a further 10% increase over the previous year to €48.6 million. This encouraging development demonstrates the importance these forward looking companies place on R&D and highlights the continued relevance of Shannon Free Zone as a key location for R&D investment in manufacturing and international services. Given the turbulent national and international economic climate, Shannon Free Zone companies performed well during 2008 (latest available statistics), generating €3.5 billion in sales of which 94% were to export markets.
Job creation continues to be challenging
260 new jobs were created at Shannon Free Zone in 2009. However, reflecting the extremely difficult trading environment for industry at Shannon Free Zone, in terms of sustaining employment, employment numbers at the Zone fell 11% year on year, from 7,107 in 2008 to 6,320. It should be noted that almost 80% of these job losses were the result of down sizing and not closures.
To help address some of the immediate challenges facing the Shannon Free Zone business community during the year, Shannon Development assisted 14 companies at Shannon Free Zone to secure €2 million support through the Government Employment Subsidy Scheme (Temporary). As a result, these companies have committed to maintaining 1,800 jobs.
Although a difficult year, there were many significant achievements by Shannon Free Zone companies during 2009 notably: the acquisition by AerCap of Genesis Leasing making it the largest quoted independent aircraft leasing company in the world; the commencement by Zimmer of the manufacture of its NexGen orthopaedic knee product line; the expansion by Geon into its own stand alone facility of 11,000 sq ft on Shannon Free Zone; the €50 million Intel investment at its R&D facility in the Shannon Free Zone which will grow Intel’s Shannon workforce by up to 134 new jobs over the next 4 years, bringing the total employment to approximately 300.
During the year Shannon Aerospace won a contract for maintenance checks on new British Airways business class service aircraft, transiting via Shannon International Airport. This BA service to the US is the first commercial passenger service to use Shannon Airport’s new pre-clearance facility, which Shannon Development supported.
The outlook for 2010 would suggest another difficult year ahead for Shannon Free Zone, however considerable progress was made on marketing the Zone to potential overseas investors during 2009. Shannon Development succeeded in securing 14 itineraries from prospective new clients for the Shannon Free Zone, five of which were generated in partnership with IDA Ireland. Shannon Development is working with a number of potential new clients and existing SFZ clients on expansions and investments.
Shannon Development invests €9.6 million in property solutions for indigenous and FDI companies
Shannon Development invested €9.6 million in 2009 as part of its strategy to provide a range of leading edge business property solutions for indigenous and Foreign Direct Investment Companies. The €9.6 million was invested in capital expenditure on building and infrastructural projects around the Shannon Region during the year.
Expanding the Shannon region’s business infrastructure
Shannon Development continued to invest in the Shannon Region’s business property portfolio in 2009. The company’s strategy is to provide world class industrial facilities to position the region to take advantage of the global economic recovery. Shannon Development owns and manages a range of 57 Technology Parks, Industrial Estates and Business Parks in the Shannon Region Counties of Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary, South West Offaly and North Kerry.
Among key property investments undertaken by the Company in 2009 were:
€4 million expansion at Tipperary Technology Park (TTP), Thurles
A major €4 million expansion for Tipperary Technology Park (TTP), Thurles, Co. Tipperary, is currently underway. Shannon Development is constructing a new 21,500 sq. ft. two-storey office building at the Park, and work is near completion. This will be the third building on the business campus and is part of the Company’s continued development of its Knowledge Network of five key business and technology parks around the Shannon Region.
€3 million Tarbert E-Town project to offer a better quality of life
Shannon Development completed work on a new €3 million E-Town development in Co. Kerry. The project involved the construction of a small cluster of 8 tailor-made live/work houses on a 1.3 acre site on the Ferry Road in Tarbert, Co. Kerry. The project will enable business people achieve a better work/life balance and in doing so bring new economic activity back into the local community. Shannon Development has worked closely with Tarbert Development Association who are fully behind the project.
As part of its investment in the Tarbert E-Towns project, Shannon Development launched a dedicated e-towns community website for Tarbert and 12 volunteers within the community received training in web authoring to manage and update the website, www.tarbert.ie.
Ten acre extension to Newcastle West Business & Technology Park complete
Shannon Development has completed work on a 10 acre extension of Newcastle West Business and Technology Park, Co. Limerick. The development of the Park is an integrated element of the Shannon Development’s strategy for the economic development of the town.
€3 million Roscrea Business and Technology Park gets marketing boost
Shannon Development has produced a new marketing brochure for its €3 million Roscrea Business and Technology Park. The Park is situated in a prime location at Benamore, on the Dublin side of Roscrea. The 26 acres development site is being promoted to industrialists by Shannon Development in conjunction IDA and Enterprise Ireland. Several enquiries have already been received. Shannon Development, with Roscrea Chamber of Commerce, is developing an investment attraction brochure to showcase Roscrea and highlight the town’s attractiveness for inward investment.
International Science Centre at NTP proving to be a valuable resource
Shannon Development is pleased with the response from clients to its newly revamped International Science Centre at the National Technology Park, Limerick. The centre was fully occupied during its first full year of operation since the revamp and among its clients are Powervation, an internationally traded company which was named ‘Company of the Year at the Irish Technology Leadership Group (ITLG) Irish Times Innovation Awards.
Expansion at Kilmallock Business and Technology Park, Co. Limerick
During 2009 work was completed on a major expansion at Kilmallock Business and Technology Park, owned and managed by Shannon Development. The project involved the provision of infrastructure to an additional 13 acres adjoining the existing 14 acres already developed. The extension now provides nine new sites for enterprise development.
Nine development sites completed at Smithstown, Shannon, Co. Clare
Work was completed on the development of nine fully serviced sites for new enterprise development at previously undeveloped lands at Smithstown in Shannon. Situated in a prime location between Smithstown and Shannon Free Zone East, these high quality sites are being actively marketed by Shannon Development.
The tourism industry continues to make a valuable contribution to the Shannon Region economy despite global downturn
The continued downturn in world tourism has been felt in every corner of the globe during 2009 including Ireland and the Shannon Region. However, the Shannon Region Tourism industry still attracts two million visitors generating up to €579 million in revenue annually. In addition the Shannon Region tourism industry continues to be a major employer with an estimated 25,000 people in circa 1,000 companies. Although final tourism statistics for 2009 are not yet available, overall visitor numbers to the Shannon Region are expected to be down in line with tourism results nationally.
Shannon Development own brand tourism initiatives yield results
In response to the continued economic challenges facing the Shannon Region tourism industry in 2009, the Company undertook a series of tourism boosting initiatives in domestic and overseas markets. As a result of these initiatives Shannon Development directly succeeded in generating €47 million in tourism revenue for the Region, on top of the €43 million delivered by the Company in 2008.
In 2009 Shannon Development’s tourism campaigns succeeded in attracting almost 315,000 visitors and generating almost 600,000 bednights for the Shannon Region. In addition to its own initiatives, Shannon Development continued to work with Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland to support a range of national and international radio, TV, print and online promotional campaigns.
Shannon Development undertook a major targeted drive to stimulate additional tourism business for Shannon Airport and the Shannon Region. Among the targets achieved by the Company in 2009 was the signing and implementation of 38 separate national and international tourism marketing agreements with airlines, tour operators, travel agents, corporate businesses and air holiday companies in North America, Great Britain, Europe and Ireland.
During the year Shannon Development undertook focused advertising, e-marketing, travel media familiarisation trips and a range of domestic and overseas tourism trade campaigns. For example, the tourism marketing team attended 46 national and international trade and consumer tourism events in nine countries to sell the Shannon Region as a tourist destination to over 2.6 million potential visitors. The Company also supported over 50 national and international travel media visits to the Region, in conjunction with Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland, which resulted in over 1,000 major articles and broadcasts worth over €30 million in Equivalent Advertising Value. Among these was the BBC “Three Men Go To Ireland” which was seen by over 6 million people in the UK.
Shannon Development hosted 12 trade/sales workshops in the Shannon Region including the French Connect workshop brought together key players in the European low cost aviation sector, and a group of senior buyers from the top 20 British Coach Tour Operators.
A new initiative in the US market saw the commissioning of a sales representative to target over 2,000 high end travel agents to promote the Fly Shannon message and the new customs and immigration facility at Shannon Airport. The aim of the campaign was to attract business from the East coast of the US to Shannon.
During the year Shannon Development established a North American Advisory Council comprising business leaders in tourism and industry throughout the US, all of whom have a connection with the Shannon Region. This initiative has already started to open up tourism and business opportunities for the Shannon Region.
In 2009 the Company undertook a major joint marketing campaign with Ryanair on their UK and German routes into Shannon Airport which yielded 240,000 inbound passengers up 33% on the previous year, resulted in 336,000 bednights up almost 30% on 2008 and almost €27 million in tourism spend for the Shannon Region, an increase of almost 30% on the previous year.
Continuing to support the development of business tourism
In late 2009 the Company, in partnership with the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau launched a Sports Ambassadors programme, the first of its kind in Ireland. The new initiative is designed to drive more sports tourism to the Shannon Region, the sports tourism market is estimated to be worth €60 million to the Shannon Region economy. The launch was attended by high profile sports personalities including Keith Wood, Packie Bonner and Peter Clohessy who were among the first to sign up to become sports ambassadors for the Shannon Region.
A total of 19 conferences and events were secured for the Region by the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, which is supported by Shannon Development. These events attracted 4,000 delegates, generated 10,000 bed nights and generated €6 million in revenue.
Shannon Development supported tourism events
In 2009 Shannon Development directly supported in excess of 30 major festivals and events around the Shannon Region, among them were: the World Dancing Championships held in Ennis in April which generated an estimated €4.5 million economic boost for Co. Clare; the Pig N Porter Festival in Limerick, the largest tag rugby event of its kind in the world which attracted over 120 national and international teams; the Mid Ireland Golf Festival held in Birr, which attracted over 300 UK golfers and generated a €400,000 boost for the local economy; the King of Clubs on Lough Derg, one of Ireland's most prestigious international coarse angling competitions, which attracted over 300 competitors. These events benefit a range of tourism and service sector businesses including accommodation providers, bars, restaurants and visitor attractions.
Shannon Development strengthens ties with Shannon Airport
The Company has always worked closely with Shannon Airport Authority to stimulate demand for Shannon Airport. To strengthen this working relationship, Shannon Development signed a joint marketing agreement with the Airport Authority in early 2009. In late 2009, the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD, appointed Dr Vincent Cunnane to the Board of Shannon Airport Authority. Dr Cunnane joins his Shannon Development colleague Olivia Loughnane on the Board.
Piloting new technology to promote tourism
During 2009 in a bid to make it easier for visitors to get accurate tourist information digitally, Shannon Development and North Tipperary County Council became the first state agency and local authority in Ireland to use satellite navigation systems to map visitor attractions, activities and accommodation. In a unique partnership between the bodies, over 220 points of interest in the North Tipperary area were made available to in-car satellite navigation systems. Working through their Shannon Broadband Company, Shannon Development uploaded a range of tourist information as part of a pilot project. The aim of the project was to address the deficit of information in rural Ireland for Sat Nav users. This venture has proved so successful that the Company plans to roll out this new technology throughout the Shannon Region.
Shannon Development is also involved in other technology programmes to promote tourism. The use of digital technology forms part of the Shannon Region Trails Programme, launched in 2007 by Shannon Development to develop and promote a series of world class cycling, walking, and water tails (canoeing and surfing) around the Shannon Region. Some of the trails have been digitally mapped using Sat Nav devices to ensure maximum usability and accessibility of the trails, to the public. The public can access the trails digitally from various websites and download the trails to their GPS units prior to visiting the trails. This is of particular interest to people who participate in outdoor sports such as hill walking and mountain biking.
Tourism Product Development
As the tourism authority for the Shannon Region, Shannon Development supports a range of Shannon Region tourism entrepreneurs develop tourism projects and secure EU grant funding. Between 1989 and 2009, over 200 projects were assisted with grants of €54 million which secured a total investment of over €600 million.
€2 million Shannon Region International Trails Programme on track
Work on the Shannon Development initiated €2 million Shannon Region International Trails Programme progressed in 2009. The programme was devised to grow visitor numbers and secure long term sustainable economic benefits for less developed areas of the Shannon Region. Trail guides were completed for all new trails and the trails website, www.shannonregiontrails.ie, was further developed in 2009.
During the year, six new loop walks were opened in counties Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary. Two cycling hubs at Doolin in North Clare and Nenagh in North Tipperary were launched, and a further two cycling hubs at Kilmallock, Co Limerick and Birr, Co Offaly were nearing completion at year end. County Clare cycle routes received an additional boost when they were voted one of the world top ten in the Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2010’ guide.
Progress is ongoing on upgrading the Region’s eight national waymarked ways including works carried out on the Burren Way, Lough Derg Way, Slieve Felim Way and Ballyhoura Way. Over 511,000 overseas visitors participate in walking holidays in Ireland annually generating an estimated spend of €340 million.
To-date over 50 projects involving overall partnership investment of €4.2 million have been developed under the Shannon Region Trails Programme and the majority were nearing completion at the end of 2009, among these: 30 looped walks in Counties Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and South Offaly, with the overall Burren walks project including the very successful Walkers Welcome Scheme launched in 2009; Four cycling hubs involving up to 20 loops at Doolin, Nenagh, Kilmallock and Birr with the completed projects at Nenagh and Doolin launched in 2009; A new cycle track from Shannon Airport to Ennis was further developed in 2009; The Great Southern Trail project was completed as a dedicated 26km traffic free walking and cycling track; Further work was completed on the Ballyhoura Mountain bike trail which attracted up to 20,000 visitors during 2009.
Mid Shannon Tourism Investment Scheme
Significant promotion of the Mid Shannon Tourism Investment Scheme was undertaken by Shannon Development in 2009. This included a series of seminars and advice clinics around the Shannon Region to brief potential project promoters in terms of finding suitable projects for the scheme which has been extended until May 2010.
In 2009, two projects valued collectively in excess of €10 million were approved in Terryglass and Cloughjordan in North Tipperary by the Board of the Mid Shannon Tourism Investment Scheme. These were the first projects to be approved under the Scheme which is administered by Shannon Development and Fáilte Ireland.
The Burren
2009 saw further advancement of Phase 1 of the Burren Connect project by Shannon Development, in partnership with Clare County Council and the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI). Key elements included new parking areas, visitor information, new signage, improved driving routes, and new web facilities. This follows the implementation in 2007 of a €1.6 million tourism branding strategy for the area involving signage and the development of digital information hubs at five locations around the Burren. In addition Shannon Development, in association with the Burren Connect project group, participated in the Burren Eco Tourism Pilot Project to develop an eco tourism brand for the Burren.
Lakelands and Inland Waterways Initiatives
Fáilte Ireland and Waterways Ireland, in association Shannon Development, Fermanagh Tourism, Tourism Ireland and Northern Ireland Tourist Board are continuing to participate in a marketing campaign to promote the complete navigable Lakeland and Inland Waterways from Lough Erne to Limerick City. Under the banner of Lakelands and Inland Waterways, the steering group’s tourism campaign involves; national TV advertising, destination marketing print pieces, promotions at key travel shows, as well as print media and PR support.
Delivering NDP Tourism Infrastructure Scheme
Shannon Development’s tourism product development team continue to develop, promote and secure strategic projects and initiatives targeted to achieve the Company’s objective of a balanced spatial spread of tourism development across the Region. In 2009 Shannon Development, in partnership with Shannon Region County Councils and other agencies, completed 20 projects approved under the NDP Tourism Infrastructure Fund. To-date, Shannon Development has assisted tourism product promoters with grant support of €6 million generating an €8 million investment in a range of projects. Projects completed under this scheme include: Lough Boora and Shannon Harbour Co Offaly; Terryglass Harbour amenity facilities and Lake Lookout in North Tipperary; amenity areas in Glin and Lough Gur in County Limerick; the restoration of Clancy Strand in Limerick; angling projects, and historic town trail projects at Kilrush and Ennis in Co Clare.
Employment Subsidy Scheme for Tourism
In December 2009 the Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment announced the extension of the Employment Subsidy scheme to include all sectors of the economy including tourism businesses. Following the announcement Shannon Development actively worked with the tourism trade in the region to advise and assist potential applicants. A significant number of tourism companies applied for funding under the scheme and committed to maintaining over 1,500 jobs.
Shannon Heritage
Shannon Heritage, the tourist and heritage subsidiary of Shannon Development continued during 2009 to enhance its eight day visitor attractions and four evening entertainment venues around the Shannon Region. The Shannon Heritage operation is vitally important to tourism in the Region as it continues to annually contribute an estimated €20 million to the local economy in resulting revenue. The Company employs a total of 300 people in peak season but on top of this would indirectly support many more jobs in the wider Region.
Reflecting the downturn in the tourism industry, Shannon Heritage recorded a decrease in 2009, but despite this the Shannon Development tourism subsidiary attracted over 440,000 visitors to its range of visitor attractions and evening entertainments. As a result of the downturn the Company has developed a range of new initiatives to attract new customers. For example a new online reservations system was introduced across all sites, which is already proving extremely effective. The Company continued to be innovative in its operations and introduced a number of new product offerings particularly on the domestic market. Continuing to innovate will be crucial moving forward into an even more difficult tourism climate next year.
The Shannon Region, and in particular the Shannon Estuary, has enormous potential to be the leader in the generation of sustainable energy in Ireland. In 2009, Shannon Development established a dedicated in house team to work with energy industry partners and players to ensure that we fully utilise the region’s significant advantages in terms of sustainable energy generation over the coming years.
Shannon Development to lead major EU Energy Saving Initiative
The EU estimates that €100 billion is wasted every year because of energy inefficiencies, but this may become a thing of the past as Ireland is to lead a major new green energy initiative to help industries across Europe become more energy efficient. Led by Shannon Development, a steering group was set up in 2009 and comprises representatives from eight countries, Ireland, UK, Finland, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Estonia and Bulgaria. Called ‘Regional Cluster for Energy Planning’, the group will develop a new policy tool which will be rolled out across Europe to integrate energy policy with regional policy.
Shannon Development secures EU support for European Biomass Study
Shannon Development secured EU support in 2009 for an important European biomass study into how best to accelerate research into increasing the amount of fuel generation from biological material such as trees, plants, and municipal waste. Led by Shannon Development, the project comprises partners from Denmark, Hungary and Bulgaria.
The role of biomass will be critical in future years as Ireland and Europe looks for new green energy sources. The biomass study has potential to yield long term economic benefits, promote green energy, and yield much needed new jobs in the renewable energy sector. The study, supported by the EU Seventh Framework Programme (Regions of Knowledge), is expected to be complete in 2011.
Kerry Deepwater Zone
Shannon Development has granted a purchase option on 281 of its 600 acre landbank at Tarbert/Ballylongford on the Shannon Estuary to Shannon LNG, an Irish subsidiary of Hess LNG Limited, who propose to build a €500 million liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal.
Having secured planning permission for the LNG terminal, Shannon LNG was granted planning permission for the Shannon Pipeline, a 26 km pipeline between the proposed terminal and the National gas grid, in February 2009. In late 2009 the Commission for Energy Regulation awarded approval to construct the pipeline. When complete, the Shannon LNG project will provide a significant part of Ireland’s projected gas needs, resulting in a downward pressure on price and increased security and diversity of Ireland’s energy supply.
To increase its focus on the Greater Limerick Area, Shannon Development established a new dedicated Limerick Development Division in 2009. A strong region requires a strong core and Shannon Development’s objective is to grow the Greater Limerick Area – which incorporates the city and county - into a vibrant and successful economic location.
Promoting Limerick as a business & tourism location
The Division will focus on key areas including the development of new business opportunities through the development of business, sports, arts and cultural linkages with other cities. In addition to highlighting the attractiveness of Limerick as an investment location, the Limerick Development Division will work closely with key partners to develop and support marketing programmes and events aimed at offering diversity and quality in what the city offers to visitors and investors.
Limerick is renowned as a centre of sporting excellence underpinned by passionate supporters. The Limerick Development Division intends to capitalise on this to bring sports related events to Limerick. In this regard, the successful 2009 launch of the Sports Ambassadors Programme in partnership with the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau is expected to yield dividends in terms of greater sports driven tourism in Limerick in 2010 and beyond.
During 2009, to increase its tourism promotion of the Greater Limerick Area, the Limerick Projects and Promotions team within the Limerick Development Division actively worked with tourism promoters and event organisers supporting a series of events. These included the Adare Village Festival, Limerick’s Springfest and Riverfest, the Cappamore and Limerick shows, the launch of Ireland’s first Georgian Christmas Market, and the new Winterfest. The team highlighted the Limerick tourism brand at a number of national tourism promotions during the year, including at the World Travel Market in London.
Developing Limerick’s Business Infrastructure
The National Technology Park (NTP) in Limerick and Raheen Business Park are two of the biggest business parks in Ireland and are owned and managed by Shannon Development. During the 2009 NTP continued to be a key economic driver for Limerick and the wider Shannon Region. Over 3,000 people are employed at the Park in a mix of indigenous enterprise, foreign owned industry, research, education and training companies. Among the largest companies in the Park are Vistakon and Cook Ireland Ltd, supported by IDA Ireland and employing over 1,100 in total. Seven new start up companies commenced at NTP Limerick InnovationWorks in 2009 with a further two new companies setting up on the Park.
In late 2009 Shannon Development began work on designing a Masterplan for a major site at the National Technology Park. The intention is to develop this site as the Shannon Region’s Strategic Site aimed at attracting large-scale Foreign Direct Investment from the rapidly expanding global Life Sciences sector including, in particular, major Corporations involved in Medical Technologies and Biopharmaceutical manufacturing / R&D activities.
Raheen Business Park
In 2009, Shannon Development completed a major refurbishment of its Food Centre in Raheen Business Park, Limerick, which resulted in the refurbishment of four units to food processing standard units, and general infrastructure upgrading works including new landscaping.
Restored Clancy Strand reopened
May 2009 saw the re-opening of the restored Clancy’s Strand, a collaborative project, administered by Limerick City Council, with a grant of €1.6 million secured by Shannon Development towards the €2.1 million overall cost of the project. The grant was secured under the NDP 2007 – 2013 Tourism Infrastructure. The Clancy’s Strand marks phase one of the Riverside Improvement Strategy for Limerick City.
In early 2009, in the wake of 1,900 job losses at Dell, Mary Coughlan T.D., Tánaiste, and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, established the Mid West Task Force led by well known businessman Denis Brosnan. Dr. Vincent Cunnane, chief executive, Shannon Development, was appointed chief executive of the Task Force. During the year Shannon Development assisted the Task Force in its work.
Presentations from 24 groups, representing the major stakeholders and interest groups involved in economic and social development in the Mid West, were received by the Task Force during the year. The Task Force published its Interim Report last summer, and among its recommendations were an acceleration of Limerick’s regeneration plans, the establishment of a commission to examine governance of the greater Limerick area, and government funding for the Lynxs Cargo Hub project at Shannon Airport and marketing funds to promote the Airport as the gateway for international traffic to the Midwest and West of Ireland.
Shannon Broadband Ltd, the public sector consortium led by Shannon Development in partnership with the regions’ local authorities, laid a network of 52kms of fibre optic cable in eight Shannon Region Towns, an investment of €12 million which was completed in 2008.
In 2009 Shannon Development through Shannon Broadband Ltd commenced the hand over process of the eight phase 2 MANs (Metropolitan Area Networks) to the Limerick based company Enet. Enet, which manages Phase 1 of the State’s MANs, including Shannon Broadband’s Limerick MAN, was appointed by the Government in 2009 to manage, maintain and market Phase 2 of the programme which covers an additional 66 towns.
This will now enable industry, businesses and telecom wholesalers in the Shannon Region to avail of advanced telecom technologies capable of delivering cutting-edge communications and information services in the Region
In total €18.5 million was invested by Shannon Broadband in the Shannon Region 109km fibre based MANS networks since the commencement of the State’s MANs program sponsored by the Department of Communication Energy and Natural Resources and the EU European Regional Fund.
Shannon Development operates a knowledge network of five business and technology parks in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Offaly and North Kerry, at strategic locations around the Shannon Region Each Park comprises cutting edge business facilities designed to meet the needs of investors and enterprises in the Knowledge Age. These are: Tipperary Technology Park, in Thurles; Kerry Technology Park in Tralee; the National Technology Park, Limerick; Information Age Park, Ennis, and Birr Technology Centre. The Knowledge Network incorporates an InnovationWorks at each location which supports new, high-potential knowledge-based businesses through the crucial start-up phase and early years of their development.
Today Shannon Development’s Knowledge Network of business and technology parks across the Region employ over 3,600 people. The Knowledge Network is a long term investment providing facilities and support systems required by entrepreneurs. In 2009 the network has seen substantial growth with 18 new client companies being facilitated by Shannon Development. In addition, a further 12 companies, already established, expanded into new accommodation on the parks.
Tipperary Technology Park (TTP), Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Over 150 people are employed at the Park generating significant local economic impact. A major €4 million expansion for Tipperary Technology Park (TTP), Thurles is currently underway. This will be the third building on the business campus and is part of the company’s continued development of its Knowledge Network.
Kerry Technology Park (KTP), Tralee, Co. Kerry
Kerry Technology Park companies performed well during 2009 despite the difficult economic environment. Over 300 people are employed at KTP and during 2009 a number of companies including Aspen Connect, Donseed and Altobridge and Saorgus Energy expanded and recruited additional staff. Altobridge became the 3rd company based at KTP to win the emerging category section in the 2009 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
During the year Shannon Development teamed up with Kerry entrepreneur Jerry Kennelly and the Institute of Technology Tralee to launch the groundbreaking Endeavour programme. Also supported by Enterprise Ireland and local entrepreneurs, the programme is designed to offer a range of supports to help fast-track globally scalable technology start-ups, and attracted 15 new fledgling businesses from all over the country who now have use of hot desk facilites at KTP and the Tom Crean Centre.
The National Technology Park (NTP), Limerick
The National Technology Park Limerick continued to be a key economic driver for Limerick and the wider Shannon Region during 2009 (as reported in Limerick Development section).
Information Age Park Ennis (IAPE), Co. Clare
The Information Age Park Ennis is a 34 acre urban business campus. It has been constructed to provide high quality business space suitable for a range of technology, financial and internationally traded services. The park comprises two buildings, with a total of 23 suites, ranging in size from 244sq to 4,104 sq ft. 17 suites are currently occupied with a number of other enquiries in the pipeline. In addition the facility offers shared turnkey office facilities for start up entrepreneurs. There are currently four of these in IAPE and three of these are now occupied. The Park’s state of the art facilities are used by both internal and external clients, and are used extensively by community groups.
Birr Technology Centre
Birr Technology Centre is a facility that offers a prestigious image and a quality working environment, as well as state-of-the-art infrastructure for businesses. The Knowledge Network incorporates InnovationWorks, which supports new, high-potential knowledge-based businesses through the crucial start-up phase and early years of their development. Companies in Birr Technology Centre employ over 80 people.
Nandi O’Sullivan
Public Relations Manager
Tel: +353 61 710259
Mobile: +353 86-2371510
Fax: 061 363180
E-mail: Click Here