International credit card company MBNA has confirmed it is interested in setting up a base in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, to expand its Irish operations and wants to buy a 13-acre plot of land in the town from the county council. While it was stressed yesterday that discussions involving the company, IDA Ireland and the local authority were still at a preliminary stage, the project was described as "significant" and hopes grew of a jobs boost for the town.
It is thought unlikely the company would encounter any major problem in either buying the land or in getting planning permission from Leitrim County Council.
The managing director of MBNA Ireland, Mr Ian O'Doherty, said the company wanted to expand its Irish operations from its Dublin headquarters, where 185 people are employed. "There are a number of elements still to be put in place and we haven't made any decision yet, but we are interested in locating in Carrick-on-Shannon, there is no doubt about that.
"It is an exciting opportunity and we see potential. But there is a long way to go and there are a lot of things to fall into place but it is definitely on the radar screen," Mr O'Doherty said.
MBNA is the third-largest issuer of credit cards in the world and the company has had a base in Dublin since 1997. Mr O'Doherty said work at the Dublin office did not just concern its Irish operation, but also serviced European and American bases. Its parent company is located at Delaware in the US and the European headquarters are in Chester in England.
The Dublin office combines a business development unit and a call centre and Mr O'Doherty said the proposed Carrick-on-Shannon facility would be an expansion of this. He could not say how many jobs would be created.
He said MBNA was "positively disposed" towards locating in the regions because of favourable experiences it had in rural areas in the US such as Maine.
The IDA regional director in the Border area, Mr Frank Conlon, also stressed that discussions were at a preliminary stage but said there was "an indication of serious interest and intent by a major international player".
Mr Conlon said that, if it went ahead, it would be "a significant project which would bring quality employment and solid economic development to the area".
Carrick-on-Shannon has been developing rapidly in recent years and its ability to attract inward investment has been enhanced by the introduction of the rural renewal tax scheme and the IDA policy of biasing grant-aid towards the Border, midland and west region.
To date, only one major multinational company, the wood processor Masonite, has located in Leitrim and there has been no decentralisation of any Government offices. A regional office of the new North/South implementation body, Waterways Ireland, is to be based in Carrick-on-Shannon, while the headquarters will be in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.
