However, we are also aware that the repeated announcements about the Park have raised unrealistic hopes for many people who very much want to get employment in Tipperary Town. Every time there is another announcement, hopes are raised and then months pass until yet another announcement. We feel that this is very unfair on people who desperately need employment.

This week’s announcement was the fifth announcement in two years and we believe it was made for political purposes, to reflect credit on the politician who has worked on the proposal. We give full credit to the politician concerned, but we criticise the multiple announcements, given the zero jobs to date.

We also believe that the announcements are overly positive. “New Tipperary innovation park expected to create hundreds of jobs” - The Nationalist 11 April 2017 - 19 months ago. The addition of the Park to the IDA Property Portfolio is indeed a very positive step. However, there are currently 54 vacant properties on that Portfolio. We sincerely hope that the IDA are successful in getting a taker for the Park, but some level of realism must be applied so this stops being regularly announced in such terms as “jobs boost” (The Nationalist this week).

We also believe that the readiness of the premises to be promoted to potential foreign direct investors has been exaggerated, especially given that the entire premises is currently being used as a warehouse by its owners, and the fact that it does not yet appear on the IDA online Property Portfolio.

We simply ask that the temptation to make announcements for political reasons is tempered by some consideration for those who desperately need employment and whose hopes are raised needlessly time and time again.

We look forward with great hope to the success of the Park and congratulate everyone who is working in the background to make it a success, as long as the work stays in the background until an actual result is achieved.