Belview Strategic Water Supply Scheme to pave way for job creation in Kilkenny and the South East
THE first phase of the €23 million Belview Strategic Water Supply Scheme which will facilitate industrial development and job creation in Kilkenny and South East will be officially opened today (Friday, February 24th) by Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan T.D, IDA Ireland Chief Executive Officer, Barry O’Leary and Chairman of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Paul Cuddihy.

The new water scheme will service 240 hectares of industrial land around Belview Industrial Park near Belview Deepwater Port, and allow for the building of 10,000 additional houses in South Kilkenny and Waterford between now and 2031.

The Belview Strategic Water Supply Scheme is of major economic benefit to South Kilkenny and the wider South East Region. As well as alleviating pressure on the domestic water supply which resulted in shortages in recent years in South Kilkenny, it will allow for the development of industry in Belview Industrial Park, providing much needed employment in the region. The scheme is an important strand of the Invest Kilkenny initiative, launched by the Kilkenny local authorities in 2010 to promote the area as an ideal location for business.

The total investment for this phase of the scheme is €13m of which a significant amount was provided by IDA Ireland and the balance by Kilkenny County Council and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. When all phases are complete, it will represent a total spend of €23m.

The Belview Strategic Water Supply Scheme now provides 3,300 cubic metres or 725,000 gallons of water per day, primarily for industrial and enterprise use and also for the people and community of South Kilkenny.

When all phases are completed, 15,000 cubic metres or 3.3 million gallons of water a day will be available, of which 9,000m³ or 2 million gallons will be available for industrial use.

The water supply infrastructure is matched by a wastewater treatment plant provided at a cost of €37m by Waterford City, with capacity of 190,000 population equivalent. The IDA has also supported this work.

IDA Ireland’s land bank at Belview is one of number of Strategic Sites nationally. The site at Belview now enjoys significant utilities in water services which are necessary to attract and retain large scale utility intensive manufacturing operations in the pharmaceuticals, bio pharmaceuticals, life sciences and food sectors.

Belview is situated just four miles from Waterford City and 37 miles from Kilkenny City and incorporates 265 hectacres of zoned land, including the IDA land bank, the Marine Point Business Park and Belview Port.

Belview Port is the nearest deep water Irish port to mainland Europe. Two thirds of the Irish domestic market lies within a 160km radius of Belview, with direct access to the national rail network. The surrounding industrial area boasts substantial warehousing.

Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, said, “I am delighted to be opening this facility. The need to develop a water supply to facilitate the development of the port area was recognised in the Belview Area Action plan, and the opening of this Water Supply Scheme will facilitate the development of water-intensive industries in the Belview Industrial Park, which is ideally located as a gateway to the greater Kilkenny/ Waterford region.

“This water supply scheme will not only benefit the industrial needs of the area, as it also has the added advantage of alleviating pressure on householders in the area who have suffered from water shortages over the past few years. This is the first phase in a major water supply initiative that will service customers in Mooncoin, Mullinavat, Kilmacow, Ferrybank, Slieverue and the surrounding areas, and provide for development potential up to 2031.

“The programme of reforms I have planned for the delivery of water services will mean that Ireland, which is rich in water resources, can continue to exploit this natural advantage to attract foreign direct investment and high end employment, and meet the demands of our existing businesses and communities for high quality water and security of supply.”

Speaking at the official opening today, the CEO of IDA Ireland Barry O’Leary said that “Today marks a key milestone in the promotion and development of the South East Region and IDA’s Strategic landbank at Belview. The development of this Belview Strategic Water Supply Scheme better enables IDA to compete on a global scale for capital intensive advanced manufacturing projects for the Belview Site. As demonstrated with this Scheme, IDA will continue to work in collaboration with all other stakeholders in the Irish system to ensure that Ireland and the South East Region provides a uniquely attractive environment in which multinational companies can succeed and grow”.

Speaking at the official opening today Kilkenny County Council Chairman, Cllr Paul Cuddihy said: “Belview has huge capacities of water available for industry and enterprise and if any company in Ireland, Europe or beyond is looking for water for industrial development, Kilkenny has plenty to spare”

Kilkenny City and County Manager, Joe Crockett, welcomed the development. “The water and wastewater infrastructure combined with port and rail services, the IDA Strategic Landbank, and other serviced and zoned lands make Belview a ­­­­­­­superb business opportunity. This is a major strategic economic asset not just for Kilkenny, Waterford and the South East Region, but for the country as a whole at a time when attracting jobs is so important.”

Mr Crockett said the Belview Water Supply is an important development under the Invest Kilkenny programme, launched in 2010 to promote the area on its fast global access, high calibre workforce, and a great quality of life with a city steeped in a rich culture and heritage.

With the opening of the M9 motorway, Kilkenny is only 70 minutes from Dublin Airport, and 30 minutes from Waterford with its regional airport and the Belview development zone, including Belview Port.

A Business Support Unit was established to market the Invest Kilkenny initiative and a website www.investkilkenny.ie launched which features interviews with successful businesses operating in the area and includes a property finder, key demographic data and reasons why Kilkenny is a great place to live and work

· Wexford Opera House to host world’s leading business and technology companies for Techovate 2012

Senior executives from the world’s leading technology companies and some of Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurs are to come together for Techovate 2012, an inspiring and innovative new business event in the Wexford Opera House on March 21st and March 22nd next.

The two-day event, details of which were announced today (Wednesday, February 8th), will bring Silicon Valley to the South-East and will offer Irish businesses of all sizes and stages of development an unrivalled opportunity to interact with and learn from senior executives of the worlds most successful companies including Microsoft, Google, IBM, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Techovate 2012 will also feature Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs telling how they made it happen including Terry Clune of Taxback, David Walsh of Netwatch and Fred Karlsson of DoneDeal. One of the highlights of the conference will be a session focusing on how to execute for business success, including top tips from 5 of the world’s largest companies.

Organised by Innovation Wexford and The Fuse Initiative, the conference came about after a group of entrepreneurs hopped on a plane to Silicon Valley and knocked on doors to forge links with the diaspora in Northern California to help develop growth within the Irish SME sector.

Techovate 2012 will use dialogue, seminars and workshops to show business people how they can use technology to grow their business in a fast-moving global marketplace. Attendees will have exclusive access to feature keynote presentations, intimate discussion forums and interactive networking events all against the backdrop of one of Ireland’s most inspirational venues, Wexford Opera House.

Not just a talking shop, the 48-hour event features: Techovate Talk, engaging personal presentations and dialog; Techovate Interact, where attendees can experience the latest Facebook, Google, IBM and Microsoft technologies and Techovate Showcase, where select Irish companies can pitch their businesses.

The two-day gathering will be split into four main themes:

1) The art of working together to produce better results.

2) Social media and online communications – harnessing the power of communities to support business growth.

3) Software and services – how future technology can give your business the edge.

4) Making it happen! Tales from the frontline on accelerating growth.

Speakers will include Carlow-born Lorraine Twohill, Google’s Vice President of Global Marketing, technical evangelists from Microsoft, IBM’s Head of Smarter Computing and Facebook Director of Global Brand Partnerships.

Innovation Wexford is a not-for-profit job creation organisation with a community focused approach to enterprise development. To date it has assisted in the creation of over 800 jobs and has supported the establishment and development of over 100 companies. The FUSE Initiative is a group of 250 entrepreneurs and business people aimed at promoting business growth in the south-east.

Founder of Techovate and Group Chief Executive at Innovation Wexford, Brendan Ennis, said at the launch of the conference today: “We saw a unique opportunity to develop growth within the Irish SME sector by forging stronger links with the diaspora in Northern California. We simply got on a plane and flew out to see them and were welcomed with open arms.”

He added: “We have had phenomenal support from Vice-Presidents and Directors of these global companies, all of whom have volunteered their time to address the conference in person or via video link and attend forums and panel discussions that will deliver insights into how to accelerate business growth in a fast-moving global marketplace.”

Mr Ennis also acknowledged the support from Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland in helping foster relationships between Techovate and the global technology leaders taking part in the conference.

Also speaking at today’s was conference speaker Colin Browne, Director of Business Operations for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with Microsoft said: “Microsoft has a long history of helping new and start-up businesses. Over the two days at TechOvate we will share insights on our partner ecosystem, cloud computing, enabling successful start-ups and demonstrate some of Microsoft’s latest and upcoming technologies.

“In the current climate one of the key focuses for business is keeping costs down. Investing in technology is a significant way to reduce such costs and creates new opportunities for both start-ups and existing businesses. We hope by sharing our experiences in innovation and new technologies to inspire those who participate in this event.” he said.

Fred Karlsson, founder of DoneDeal, said at the Techovate 2012 launch that the Internet is quickly changing every business.

“This creates lots of opportunities for new businesses, but also a lot of challenges for existing businesses. I am delighted that Techovate is held in Wexford, as the South East has a number of strong national and international businesses. For example, DoneDeal grew into one of Ireland’s biggest websites in just a few years and our office remains in Wexford town.”

To book your place at the conference and for full details of the conference line-up go to:

www.techovate.com

Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/techovate2012

Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/techovate

Come and join in Dungarvan’s ‘Fleadh Blaa Hooley’!
· Waterford Festival of Food and Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan to host Dungarvan’s first ever ‘Fleadh Blaa Hooley’, Sunday, February 12th, 2012.

WATERFORD’S dual passion for great food and the very best of traditional Irish music and dance will be celebrated in Dungarvan on Sunday, February 12th, with the uniquely titled ‘Fleadh Blaa Hooley’.

The family-focused event at Lawlor’s Hotel will set the scene for a busy festival calendar in the West Waterford seaside town, acting as a fund-raiser for this year’s Waterford Festival of Food, Dungarvan and Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan (Munster Fleadh).

A true feast for all the senses, the hooley will feature traditional Irish music and dance and the famous Waterford “Blaa”, a distinctive floury bread roll unique to the area which will be filled with “Truly Irish Country Foods” produce, including their delicious sausages and rashers .

So special is the Blaa, which dates back to the County from Huguenot times in the 1700’s, that the European Union is considering giving it special status which, if granted, will mean the blaa can be produced only in Waterford!

Musicians and friends of Comeraghs Comhaltas will be on hand to provide music for The Fleadh Blaa Hooley. The local Comeraghs Comhaltas branch will host the 2012 Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan in Dungarvan from July 15th to 22nd. This is the largest Provincial Fleadh in Ireland, Britain and United States with visitors coming from all over Ireland and abroad to enjoy the best of traditional music, song and dance at concerts, céili’s and sessions all around the town.

Director of Waterford Festival of Food, Therese McDermott said: “This is a marvellous partnership combining the best of Irish music and dance with food unique to Waterford. We are delighted to be partnering with Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan and great craic is guaranteed on the night!”

The ingredients for the evening will be largely provided for by Waterford Festival of Food sponsor, ‘Truly Irish Country Foods’, while the food will be prepared by Lawlor’s popular chef, Conor Foran, and his team. The Blaas will be provided by Cappoquins famous local Bakery Barrons.

Waterford Festival of Food is now in its 5th year and runs in Dungarvan from April 12th to 15th 2012. It has grown into one of the biggest food festivals in the country celebrating the best of local food and beverages.

Both festivals are expected to attract thousands of visitors to the town, generating significant business in the region and giving a boost to the local economy.

Tickets for the ‘Fleadh Blaa Hooley’ cost €25 for a family, €10 for adults and €5 for children. Vegetarian options available. Tickets are available from The Wine Buff in Dungarvan or at www.waterfordfestivaloffood.com.

Further details on both festivals at www.waterfordfestivaloffood.com and www.munsterfleadh.ie