The Industrial Development Authority has said it will stop directing industries to Wicklow, if the council continues to make unpredictable demands for cash from companies trying to set up in the county, writes Tim O'Brien.
The IDA accused Wicklow County Council of "charging on the double" after the council accepted development levies of €400,000 from the authority for an industrial park in Arklow, but then sought to levy a further €400,000 from a company which wants to set up in the park.
The IDA said such "serial levies" would deter investment and job creation.
In an unprecedented commentary on its dealings with local authorities, the IDA said its complaint was not over high fees, which it encounters regularly, but with the "uncertainty of demands", the lack of finality, and behaviour which up to recently was "totally unheard of".
Last night Wicklow County Council's senior planner, Mr Seán Quirke, said there was an industrial deficit in Arklow and major sewerage, water and roads works were required. These would not be fully funded by the Government and levies had to be used to make up the rest, he said.
In addition to facing the demand for €400,000 the company in question, Vitra Tiles, was told that if its 83-strong workforce were to rise by more than 25 per cent, a new planning application would be required. But the IDA warned that another planning application could amount to another set of development levies.
Mr Colm Donlon of the IDA contrasted the agency's experience in Wicklow with its initiatives in Longford and Cavan.
He said efforts to set up new industries in those counties had met with wholehearted support from their councils.