Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady expressed his disappointment at what he has described as a hand washing exercise by the Minister for Finance in relation to his and Taoiseach Simon Harris’ governments’ failure to act as a catalyst to ensure that the further development of the Greystones Media campus goes ahead.
This is despite the fact that the Irish taxpayer remains a stakeholder in what the people of Greystones and indeed the whole of the county of Wicklow envisaged would be an exciting new project for the area, through the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF); which invests funds on behalf of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). ISIF has invested €24 million of Irish taxpayer funds into the development of the campus.
He called on the government to step up to the mark and do their job and ensure that the media campus is completed.
Teachta Brady said:
“The Minister has described the ISIF involvement as being that of a private investor, in what I can only describe as an attempt to distance the state from responsibility for its investment of taxpayers’ money in the project.
“Two years ago, it was announced that a €300 million media campus was to be developed in Greystones with a view to opening in 2024. The campus which would have created 450 jobs during the construction phase would have led to 1,500 at the 44-acre film and TV production site.
“However, while there was some preparatory work carried out on the site, equipment and portacabins and other material was removed from the site in the middle of last year.
“According to the US based group the delays were a result of the Hollywood writers’ strike. Which ended in September last year. The fact that the Irish Strategic Investment Fund is a central partner lays a responsibility on the government to play a central role in ensuring that the project gets back on track.
“I have previously called upon Taoiseach Simon Harris and his government to show leadership to get the project back on track, unlike when they sold their shares in Ardmore studios. Despite widespread objections and protests against the government’s move.
“And I want to repeat that call now.
“The creation of a state-of-the-art media hub in Greystones offers huge opportunities for job creation, in an area with a growing population. I have also been in contact with Hackman Capital, the largest owner and operator of independent films and television studios and related media facilities globally, and the primary investors in the Greystones Media Campus.
“I previously wrote to Minister Michael McGrath, who as the minister responsible for the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), which along with the Capwell company are developing the site, for details of any available timeline in relation to the completion of the project, and whether ISIF, which is responsible for the investment of Irish taxpayer funds, has put in place guarantees to ensure that the development will be completed.
“I have since then written to his successor Minister Jack Chambers seeking the same elusive answers from him.
“It is not acceptable that the government be allowed to wash its hands of its responsibility for ensuring that the Media Campus is completed. Not only is there significant taxpayer investment to the tune of €24 million, but there is also social investment by the people of the Greystones area, and a reputational and future skills investment by the Irish Film and Media industry. The government needs to step up here and do its job.”
