Galway County Council Hails ‘Game-Changer’ Athenry Investment

Fri, 05 May 2023 13:29:00 BST

MEDIA RELEASE

Galway County Council Hails ‘Game-Changer’ Athenry Investment

Galway County Council has welcomed the announcement today (Friday, 5 May 2023) by the IDA that medtech firm Dexcom is to create 1,000 permanent jobs at its proposed new global manufacturing facility in Athenry, County Galway.

The Local Authority, in conjunction with the IDA, has played a central role in attracting the investment by providing Dexcom with a community and enterprise hub space in Athenry town centre that will serve as an initial base for the company ahead of the development of a permanent headquarter facility on IDA lands in the town.

Cllr Michael (Moegie) Maher, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, described the announcement as a “game-changer for Athenry and the Galway economy” and expressed his hope that the investment by Dexcom will encourage other multinationals to consider the West of Ireland as an investment location.

“This announcement is a massive shot in the arm for the local economy. It is vote of confidence in Galway and one that I hope will encourage Irish medical technology firms and other multinationals that are considering investing in the County or expanding their footprint in the wider region,” added Cllr Maher.

Cllr Liam Carroll, Cathaoirleach of Athenry Municipal District (MD), commented, “The future economic growth of Galway depends on the continued investments of companies like Dexcom. I want to congratulate officials from Galway County Council and the IDA for working together to identify a suitable site for this considerable investment and for further strengthening Galway’s position as a driver of regional economic growth.

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said today’s announcement follows many months of engagement between the IDA and the Local Authority on the overall project.

“We are working closely with the IDA and Dexcom to facilitate a quick start-up of the initial phase of the operation through the provision of office space in our town centre, and we look forward to the development of this significant national project in Athenry and the transition to the IDA site for which planning permission is expected to be sought in the coming months,” explained Mr. Conneally. “The foresight and forward planning of Galway County Council goes back many years when the landbank was purchased by the IDA and then inserted in the various County Development Plans as part of the Strategic Economic Corridor.”

Mr. Conneally noted that the investment is strongly rooted in Galway’s global reputation for the medtech industry, the quality of the workforce and its status as a place where people want to work and live. 

“Dexcom has made a significant long-term commitment to Athenry and County Galway which I hope will influence other multinational and indigenous firms are considering investing here or expanding their existing operations in the wider region,” added Mr. Conneally. “Through the work of Galway County Council, in collaboration with the IDA, we anticipate this announcement will attract further investment in our county and I am committed to working to make this happen.”

Alan Farrell, Director of Economic, Rural & Community Development and Athenry MD, Galway County Council, said Dexcom’s commitment to County Galway would "build confidence in the county as a location to invest”. 

He added, “Dexcom’s decision to develop a new global manufacturing facility in Athenry demonstrates that through strategic planning and coordination between the development authorities, Galway can attract significant investment. There will be huge opportunities for spin offs and indigenous companies to benefit and grow many more jobs in the local economy. We recognise the importance of bringing new employment into the region and we look forward to working with the IDA and Dexcom in delivering these highly skilled new jobs in the coming months and years.”

“This major investment will act as a catalyst for the development of the wider county and the region,” commented Mr. Farrell. “The announcement also coincides with Galway County Council’s progressing of significant plans for the regeneration of Athenry town centre, including the delivery of enhanced public realm works.”

“I am delighted that we have been able to work with Dexcom to secure them as our anchor tenants for the vacant town centre building which the Council bought with financial support from the Department of Rural & Community Development, and which means that company will have key jobs in the town centre while the project if going through the development process,” he concluded.

The IDA has confirmed that the Dexcom facility in Athenry will contain a highly automated and efficient manufacturing operation with an emphasis on green technologies. Dexcom expects to provide about 500 construction jobs while the facility is being built and up to 1,000 high tech graduate and technician level positions once the site is running at full capacity. For information about Dexcom job openings in Athenry go to:  careers.dexcom.com/careers.

ENDS