BYC.J. MCGINLEY
THE Managing Director of the county's largest private employer has hit out strongly at the lack of action being taken to ease access problems to the Letterkenny office campus.
Mr Henry McGarvey has warned the type of apathy shown by the Town Council and County Council was not the type of approach that would ensure sustainable investment in Donegal. In a letter sent to members of both local authorities and the three TD's in Donegal North East Mr McGarvey states that for the past six years he had been highlighting to the elected representatives and the County Manager the need to deal with the situation regarding the access from the campus on Kilmacrennan Road.
At this week's meeting of Letterkenny Town Council, members discussed the daily problems that the 600 workers have to encounter when leaving work. In some cases, they have to cross three lanes of traffic to get on to the new roundabout. One councillor warned that someone could be killed if the problem was not addressed.
In his letter, a copy of which has been seen by the Donegal News, Mr McGarvey said since Pramerica was set up in 2000 they had made very few requests from Donegal County Council or Letterkenny Town Council.
"We have paid our taxes and rates as good citizens and have subsequently developed into the largest private employer in Donegal, making a substantial contribution to the local economy employing almost 600 highly skilled people. The provision of the Metropolitan Area Network was a significant and welcome investment by Donegal County Council but it is essential that partnership between ourselves and the council does not stop with this one success. For almost six years I have highlighted to yourselves and the County Manager the need to deal with the situation regarding access from the campus here on Kilmacrennan Road," he said.
"Delegations from the council who met with executives from Prudential at the St Patrick's Day function have also taken this message home but again to no avail. I cannot emphasise to you enough how negative a message that Letterkenny and Donegal Councils are sending to Prudential in the US who have made a a significant investment in this town and county.
"I regret and feel embarrassed that I have to write to you again on this matter but the apathy shown by yourselves is not the type of approach that will ensure that we get sustainable investment in Donegal. The bottom line is that businesses that have shown such a great commitment to the area must be given better support than what has been demonstrated over the past six years," Mr McGarvey stated in the letter.
Speaking at Monday night's Town Council meeting the County Manager, Mr Michael McLoone said he fully understood the frustrations among management and staff at Pramerica over the access problems at the Letterkenny plant. He explained how a new access to Pramerica was to be incorporated into a new road on the Windyhall side of the roundabout. However, that project has been put on the long finger due to ongoing delays with the proposed new 'Flemings' development in that area.
"We have focused on the new roundabout and the Business Park Road and opening up new lands there for development," he said.
And referring to the fourth arm of the roundabout leading up to the proposed development at Windyhall, he said they were in constant touch with the company with the hope that their plans would provide a solution.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle said the council needed to call on the Donegal Roads Department and the National Roads Authority to investigate people's concerns. He added that it was an ongoing problem that was first raised back in 2001.
"It's like a rat-race there at times and someone is going to be killed," he said.
"The annoying thing for the staff is that the council has failed to address this. Who is going to do it and when is it going to happen," he added.
Cllr Dessie Larkin said Pramerica was a major success story and there are plans to develop the plant even further.
"I do believe this is urgent. We thought the Flemings application (for a major housing development at Windyhall) would be the way for us to address this. I know if the County Manager had a solution tomorrow morning, he would do it. But we would ask you as a council to get a temporary measure in there," Cllr Larkin said.
Cllr Damien Blake suggested that the Town Council owed Pramerica a huge debt of gratitude because of the employment opportunities it had brought to the town.
"But they would not be there and would not be expanding if this authority had not be addressing their needs in the past," he said.
Cllr Neil Clarke said he was disappointed that the situation had continued for so long while Cllr Jim Lynch said the council should be doing everything in its power to facilitate the workers.
