*CEO of Vitalograph Ireland, Frank Keane
AN INVESTMENT OF €5m is to result in the creation of 72 new jobs with Vitalograph Ireland purchasing the Ballymaley Enterprise and Innovation Centre from Clare County Council.
Approval of the €1.2m sale was granted by elected representatives of the Ennis Municipal District last week and further sanctioned by a full meeting of Clare County Council on Monday.
Pinpointed as one of the first wins of the Ennis 2040 strategy, the sale of the building will see Vitalograph Ireland develop its new Clinical Trials Services Centre of Excellence in Ballymaley. The company which produces respiratory diagnostic devices, previously announced a €10 million expansion and the addition of 200 jobs in Clare and Limerick in April. The extra 72 jobs will bring Vitalograph’s staff headcount in Clare to 310 by 2024.
Clare County Council acquired the previously vacant building, the land of which measures 0.2 acres, in 2020 for the development of a touchdown space for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and innovation space to attract companies to the region. Planning permission was secured in May 2022 for the development of an Enterprise and Innovation Centre.
In a report to elected representatives, the Council’s Director of Economic Development, Liam Conneally said “with increasing costs of construction and a review of feasibility, it was decided to embark on an expressions of interest process to determine the level of interest in taking space and creating jobs in the high-tech sector in the building prior to undertaking further investment”. This began in August 2022 with a number of enquiries but only one expression of interest.
As part of the deal, both parties are to pay their own legal costs, the rights of way including car parking in favour of the Council at the location will transfer on sale of the property and the local authority are to carry out repairs to the roof of the building.
CEO of Vitalograph Ireland, Frank Keane said the expansion “represents a significant development” for the company and its commitment to its Irish operation. “The new premises will enable us to support the international growth of our ground-breaking clinical trial solutions. Creating a ‘Centre of Excellence’ here in Ennis reflects the talent and skill that exists in the Vitalograph workforce and will offer many opportunities to people looking to build their careers in this exciting business,” he explained.
Speaking on Monday, Chief Operating Officer of Ennis 2040 DAC, Kevin Corrigan estimated that the €5m investment by Vitalograph would equate at annual wages worth an approximate €3m. He said the development would be equal to €37m over ten years.
Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) outlined, “it is very positive for Ennis going forward to attract indigenous employment. Going forward, Ennis will not fall behind in terms of being very progressive in our outlook”.
According to Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) the “vision in needing an enterprise building” has been rewarded. He was hopeful the purchase price of €1.2m would be used to prepare “another enterprise building”. He added, “it is extraordinary for such a large town that the IDA failed us in providing technical buildings that they have all over the country”. Ballymaley Business Park “is growing all the time,” Cllr Pat Daly (FF) noted.
