*Photograph: Joe Buckley
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL and not Shannon Commercial Properties are responsible for maintenance in the privately owned Shannon Industrial Estate, it has emerged.
Clarification was issued by senior executive engineer in the Shannon Municipal District, Tom Mellett at a recent meeting.
Shannon representative, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) questioned “have we taken up responsibility for gullies in the Shannon Industrial Estate” to which Mellett replied “we have”.
“Do Shannon Commercial Properties give money for that or do we do it free gratis,” Cllr Flynn asked. “It has always been our responsibility,” Mellett advised.
Before it was dissolved in 2014, Shannon Development was responsible for a number of areas of development of the region including tourism and industry similar to IDA Ireland. The agency was responsible for Shannon Free Zone and National Technology Park on which the University of Limerick is located.
Shannon Town was also created and managed by the company until it was transferred to Clare County Council in 2004. This property transfer was the biggest property transaction in the history of the state.
Until 2014, the Shannon Free Zone was managed by Shannon Development, an Irish government agency. As of 2020, it is managed by Shannon Commercial Properties, a commercial semi-state company and part of the Shannon Airport Group.