West Clare Councillor Rita McInerney has successfully prompted Clare County Council to undertake a vital review of the county’s industrial units, following the submission of Notice of Motion.
This initiative aims to address the current and future needs of Clare’s industrial sector, supporting economic growth and development.
Councillor McInerney’s motion, submitted to the September Meeting of Clare County Council, requested a detailed report on the state of industrial units across Clare. The proposed report will include consultations with estate agents and business park management to evaluate: Current occupancy rates; Availability of industrial units; Zoned industrial land as well as Current and future demand for industrial spaces
The goal is to identify any potential shortfalls and develop a strategic plan to address these issues from a planning perspective.
In response to the motion, Clare County Council has outlined its commitment to addressing these needs through the existing Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029. This plan has already designated 583 hectares of land for industrial and enterprise use, which focuses on development and contains policies aimed at fostering economic and employment growth.
The Planning Department will soon produce a “Two Year Progress Report on the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029.” This report will review the development of zoned lands and assess where demand is highest, providing crucial data for the remaining years of the development plan cycle.
Furthermore, the upcoming Planning and Development Bill, expected to be enacted in 2024, introduces a new requirement for each local authority to prepare an ‘Economic Development Strategy’. This strategy will integrate an assessment of available and vacant enterprise spaces, as well as zoned land for commercial and industrial uses. The Planning Authority will initiate a scoping exercise to align with this new requirement and incorporate the information requested in Councillor McInerney’s motion.
Councillor McInerney expressed her support for the Council’s proactive stance. “I am pleased to see Clare County Council taking concrete steps to address the needs of our industrial sector,” McInerney stated. “The upcoming reports and the new Economic Development Strategy will be crucial in ensuring that Clare is well-positioned to meet future demands and support sustainable economic growth.”
As part of the process, Councillor Rita McInerney would also like to see a comparison between the number of acres zoned for light industrial and industrial in the county compared to other counties of our size. She also stated how important it is to engage with the business organisations in the county along with the public consultation in order to get the views of businesspeople. In addition, Councillor McInerney would like to see options explored on developing industry along our motorway and national primary road network, supported by appropriate public transport.