‘So instead of the council getting €1,125,000, we are getting €562,400 – half of what we could be getting’ – Councillor Aisling Moran
The 76 acres of land at the J17 National Enterprise Park at Togher, Portlaoise, which lies just off the Togher roundabout along the Portlaoise to Abbeyleix Road near the Midway Food Court and the Supermac Plaza and accessed from the M7 Motorway.
By Joe Barrett
Questions were raised at the March meeting of Laois County Council over the asking price for the sale of land at the J17 National Enterprise Park, Togher, Portlaoise.
At the meeting, councillors were asked if they approved the sale of 3.04 hectares (7.5 acres) of public land to Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies, Unit 21 Bay Road Business Park, Bay Road, Townparks, Mountmellick for €562,400 plus VAT. Mountmellick-based cllr Paddy Bracken proposed that the sale should go ahead. He was seconded by cllr Ollie Clooney.
Cllr Bracken told the meeting that the company had started out small but that it now employs 80 full-time workers and 60 contractors, with operations on the continent. He said he had spoken to the company’s manager Tony Woods, who assured him that all current jobs would be retained.
I also think that we are completely under-selling ourselves.
However, cllr Aisling Moran objected to the sale going ahead. She felt the price at which the land was being sold did not reflect the current market value for land in that area.
She said: “I have concerns about this disposal of lands. This is public land and public money. I feel we need to be getting market value for the sites being sold by Laois County Council. I did some research on this and spoke with a few auctioneers, and land at Junction 17 is making upwards of €150k an acre. So instead of the council getting €1,125,000, we are getting €562,400 – half of what we could be getting.
“What would over half-a-million of extra money in the budget do for the people of Laois? Imagine what a difference it would make to, for example, the reopening of Portlaoise Leisure Centre or to the disability services in Laois. It would go a long way in putting cycle and walking trails around the county, or widening and resurfacing rural roads.
“There is no shortage of things to do with over half-a-million euro. I also think that we are completely under-selling ourselves. We have prime commercial land in the centre of the country, with motorways to all the major towns and cities. We have the potential to be a major commercial hub in the centre of Ireland.
“Within the last six months, I suggested contacting Amazon with the view to them setting up their distribution centre here in Laois. As yet, I have not heard whether contact has been made.”
She went on to propose: ‘We come back to this disposal of land next month, when we have the full costings done on this proposal and presented to the councillors. And that going forward, that any land owned by Laois County Council is to be sold at the very least at market value.’
“When Laois County Council say that they are just passing on the costs, what we need to remember is that if Laois County Council bought land at €50,000 an acre, and the market value when they go to sell is €30,000 an acre, then Laois County Council will lose €20,000. They can not charge what they paid for it just because that’s what they paid for it.
“So surely we should be entitled to sell it at a profit if there is one to be made. The council should be run like a business. Make profit when it is there to be made and invest that profi t back into the people of Laois. We need to employ professionals to advertise and see the sites.”
It is not all about money for the site
Taking umbrage with cllr Moran, cllr Bracken said: “That is not a great signal to be sending out. There is an inference here that something is not being done right, that the council was underselling the land and the company was not paying enough money. I believe what she is saying is a disgrace.”
“Has the land been advertised for sale?” asked cllr Moran.
Cllr Paschal McEvoy said: “I support the sale. It is not all about money for the site. This (J17 National Enterprise Park) was set up to create employment. I’m lost and baffled as to why Aisling Moran can come up with such a statement. This has been managed to a tee. I’m lost for words.”
Cllr Willie Aird said: “I fully support this proposal. I don’t know where Aisling is coming from. There’s land there for sale and I don’t see any planning applications coming in from that site. I know a man, Eoin Lawlor, who’s looking to go in. He employs 50 to 60 people. I’m satisfied the land is at market value. It might be that there are people out there looking to come in but who are not willing to pay the price. I’m disappointed that a party colleague of mine could come in and pour cold water on this sale.
“Laois County Council have done very well marketing this site and have already attracted many successful businesses.
“This land is the jewel of our county and I am disappointed that a colleague of mine would pour cold water on what has been a very positive project.”
Cllr Noel Tuohy said: “I have full faith in the chief executive to do a proper deal. But I do feel that if Aisling Moran wants to ask questions that she is quite entitled to ask them.”
Cllr Moran is entitled to ask the question and is entitled to an answer and should be treated with respect
Cllr James Kelly said: “I fully support the sale. It’s a good figure … plus VAT. It will create jobs and more money will be circulated in the county.”
Cllr John King said that he knew of a business in Emo that was looking to set up in Portlaoise, “but if prices go too high, he might not be inclined to come in,” he said.
“I support this. We are trying to encourage employment in the area,” said cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley.
She added: “As a female colleague of cllr Moran on Laois County Council, it’s important that all members are treated with respect, whether we agree or disagree with one another. Cllr Moran is entitled to ask the question and is entitled to an answer and should be treated with respect.”
Laois County Council chief executive John Mulholland said that four years ago the council purchased the lands at Togher. He said that it’s 25 years since the IDA established an enterprise park on the Mountrath Road in Portlaoise and that “it still has vacant sites there”.
He said that three companies are now based at Togher – Glanbia, Aubren and Alpha Drives. The CEO added that if Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies gets the go-ahead to buy lands there, he expected 270 to be employed in the area. He told councillors that about 11 hectares (27 acres) are left to be disposed of at Togher. He also said companies from the UK and China that had expressed an interest in locating at the site “came, kicked the tyres and went away”.
Replying to cllr Moran and the market price, Mr Mulholland said: “Who knows what the market rate is? The market value is the value you get at the time.”
He said that negotiations had been ongoing with Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies for the past year and a price was struck early on in the negotiations, adding: “It was done with fairness and a competitive price.”
Well, if there are no problems, show us the details
Cathaoirleach cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said: “I welcome the development with open arms. We have development charges and people employed from such developments, all of which go back into our county. This is the council taking the bull by the horns and supporting a local company.”
“I think Aisling Moran is entitled to a clarification. I don’t think she is out of order asking a question of a sale for half-a-million euro.”
“Cllr Moran is entitled to ask any question she wants,” said cllr Bracken, “but she wants to propose we delay this for a month to see that it is done right”.
“Well, if there are no problems, show us the details,” said cllr Moran.
She went on to emphasise that she was totally in favour of enterprise, employment and development in Laois, but questioned how the council arrived at its figures. The meeting heard that cllr Bracken, seconded by cllr Clooney, had proposed the sale to go through, while cllr Moran, seconded by cllr Connell, proposed an amendment that the decision should be postponed for a month.
The amended motion was put to the meeting. It fell by 14 votes to two, with two councillors absent from the meeting. The sale of the land was given the go-ahead.
