Work on the new headquarters for the Marine Institute outside Galway city officially began today with the first sod turned by the Minister for Communication, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern.
At the ceremony today, the junior minister at the Department of Finance Mr Tom Parlon announced that John Sisk and Son had been awarded the construction contract. They start their work on the €40 million project in two weeks' time.
It is estimated that the local economy will be benefit to the tune of €17 million annually with 160 jobs located at the premises at New Harbour, Oranmore. The figure will be boosted by over 250 people working on the construction of the facility.
Mr Ahern said the facility, which includes the national laboratories, would be "a world class centre of excellence in marine research and development".
The institute moved from Abbotstown in west Dublin to make way for the proposed National Sports Campus. But development on the project, which was to have included a national stadium, have been stalled over problems relating to funding and planning.
The institute has been temporarily located at Parkmore in Galway city but will move to Oranmore when construction is completed in 2005.
Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute, said: "The new headquarters will act as a gateway to the north east Atlantic and will provide a real opportunity to forge clusters of knowledge-intensive and internationally competitive niche marine products and services."