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Computer factory closes at Knock Airport By Aiden Henry A HIGH tech computer company which had set up base at the Industrial Estate adjoining Knock International Airport is to close down over the next few weeks. Market Innovators Europe Ltd. an Irish based company which relocated all its manufacturing and distribution operations in Knock last October is to revert back to its original base in Leixlip. The possibility of several job losses has been alleviated somewhat by a management proposal which allows the workers involved to move to the company's Headquaters in Dublin. The workforce were told of this surprise development at a meeting on Friday evening last. They were told that it was no longer viable for the company to have going concerns in both Knock and Dublin. Market Innovators build a range of computer systems to suit their customers' different needs. Just last year the Company celebrated the lucrative capture of the Irish franchise of Trust Company Products which is a European brand for a complete range of high quality computer products. New jobs boost for Charlestown By Deirdre Kelly TEN new jobs for Charlestown are expected to be announced within the next week. The jobs are in the manufacturing sector and the new firm will be located in a part of the IDA factory which has been vacant since the early Seventies. According to County Councillor Mr. John Flannery, funding for the project has been given the go ahead by the County Enterprise Board. Final negotiations are still underway with the company involved and he expected the jobs to be formally announced within a week Initially ten jobs will be provided at the plant, he said, adding any new jobs for the Charlestown area were always welcome. Mr. Flannery said the jobs were one of a number of initiatives coming on stream in the continued rejuvenation of Charlestown. Plans to ease traffic gridlock in the town were at an advanced stage and a new car park in the town centre is expected to open for the summer months. Property at Main Street had been acquired and the plans for a car park were at an advanced stage in the legal process. £50,000 had been allocated to the development of parking in the road works scheme. "Initially there will be 70 spaces provided," said Mr. Flannery, "with further expansion planned. It should be open for the summer months." Other investment in the town included a new health centre to be located beside the old Town Hall on the Ballaghaderreen Road. Involving an investment of over £200,000, the centre will facilitate two G.P.s, two Public Health Nurses, and provide a wide range of child care, dental, optical, and community care services, including a launderette. The present health centre will be refurbished when it becomes vacant to give the town its first library. Mr. Flannery said he was delighted to see these initiatives coming on stream, adding "there"s more on the way." Make way for the MARC......new Mayo/Roscommon currency By Tom Shiel AN AREA of east Mayo and west Roscommon selected three years ago for an EU revitalisation programme is to have a regional currency under a new trading scheme which has received vital Brussels backing. The unit of currency will be known as the MARC (Mayo-Roscommon) currency and full details of the ambitious venture are being worked out at a series of meetings in Amsterdam as well as here in Ireland. Ballaghaderreen will be the administration hub of the local money system known as LETTS- Local Exchange Trading System- which has been deployed to good effect already in places throughout Ireland such as Westport. Westport based economist and author, Richard Douthwaite who is acting as Consultant to the project explained yesterday (Tue): "This system has been successful throughout the world and now the EU is willing to fund four projects throughout the community, two urban and two rural." Kilmovee (Mayo) and Lisacul (Roscommon), which were selected for an EU revitalisation programme three years ago, has been picked for one of the rural schemes, the only one of its kind in Ireland. According to Mr. Douthwaite, however, a much larger area of east Mayo and west Roscommon will be covered by the venture. The other rural project will be in Scotland and there are plans for urban schemes in the Spanish and Dutch capitals, Madrid and Amsterdam. "The scheme will work very similar to LETTS", Mr. Douthwaite explained. "It will enable the people of the area to trade among themselves without first having the Irish £"s to do so. Services and goods will be traded. Ballaghaderreen will be the hub of the operation but there will also be offices in Lisacul". Mr. Douthwaite says small and medium sized businesses as well and private and voluntary organisations will be able to become involved in the scheme. He agreed there might be difficulties with the concept taking off. "There may be initial scepticism. This is a totally new idea for most people". Kilmovee/Lisacul has been picked for special EU attention because of the economic problems of the area and the continuing drift of population to the larger towns. As well, there is a high proportion of dependent elderly in both parishes. |
