Minister Breen visits Ballinasloe to support Job Creation - HOPKINS

​Minister of State for Trade, Employment and Business, Pat Breen T.D. visited Ballinasloe on Friday last (April 20th) at the invitation of Fine Gael Senator Maura Hopkins.
 
Minister Breen first visited Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre where he met with members of Ballinasloe Area Community Development (BACD). This was followed by a visit to the IDA Business and Technology Park where he visited IDA Client Company, Aptar and viewed the site where BACD has recently secured planning permission for an advanced technology building. Finally, he visited the office space which has been developed above the new library on Society Street. 
 
Speaking in Ballinasloe, Senator Hopkins said, “I was delighted that Minister Breen visited the town to see at first hand the job creation potential which exists here. Increasing employment opportunities within Ballinasloe and across the wider region has been and continues to be one of my major priorities as a public representative.”
 
“Ballinasloe offers a great quality of life as a place for people to live, work and raise families. Ballinasloe is situated in an ideal location with great transport links, the opening of the new Gort to Tuam motorway has brought the journey to Shannon Airport with all of its international connections just an hour away.”
 
“I continue to work closely with the BACD to support them to progress plans for the development of the advanced technology building at the IDA site as well as working with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to ensure that Ballinasloe is properly marketed as a town which is open for business and as a prime location for further investment.”
 
“The office space on Society Street which was developed as part of the new library project, provides excellent facilities for hot-desking and immediate use allowing for the growth of small businesses. The space has a strong potential for the development of a digital hub to replicate the very successful hubs which have been developed across the country and to support changing work practices."
 
Minister Breen stated, “As a town, Ballinasloe has fantastic potential for further development. BACD has a great vision for the town which I believe will create a bright future for the area. I continue to work closely with Senator Maura Hopkins and I will support greater collaboration between the Local Authority, third level institutions, the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, The Local Enterprise Office and the wider community.”
 
Senator Hopkins concluded, “Building on the recent success of Surmodics at the IDA Business and Technology Park, there is great scope for increased employment in Ballinasloe and across the region. I will continue to work closely with Minister Breen, Minister Humphries, BACD as well as the wider community to support job creation in Ballinasloe.”