New Meath technology park to be location for €350m investment

The location for the new research and development centre announced last week by international educational software publishing company, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), is believed to be the new Moygaddy Park technology campus, just inside the Meath border with Kildare, close to Maynooth. As reported last week"s issue, the announcement of a €350 million investment creating 450 jobs was made by the Tanaiste and Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment, Mary Coughlan, last Wednesday in the company of Barry O"Callaghan, the chairman of Educational Media and Publishing (EMPG), formerly Riverdeep. EMPG purchased the veteran publishing company Houghton Mifflin in 2006. Neither the tanaiste nor the company have revealed where in the 'greater Dublin region" that the new facility is being located, but it is known that the promoters of Moygaddy Park have been in long-term negotiations with EMPG and a planning application for a research and development facility at Moygaddy is currently the subject of a material contravention move by Meath County Council, due to be discussed at the council"s October meeting. America, Singapore and the Gulf were other locations being considered by the company. And while the company, minister nor enterprise agencies are not disclosing the location on the record, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey is welcoming the company to Meath West. 'This is fantastic news for Moygaddy and for all of County Meath,' he said. 'Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is recognised globally as the leader in its marketplace with an unrivalled reputation for technical innovation and excellence in education publishing. It is great news that it has decided to locate its global R& D headquarters for its e-learning capabilities here. Meath is a strong endorsement of Ireland"s reputation for excellence and innovation and it reflects very positively on the county.' Mr Dempsey said that the majority of the new jobs that will be based at the Moygaddy centre will be highly technical in nature and will require third- or fourth-level qualifications. 'Project management and operational skills will also be required to support the centre. This will have a hugely positive impact on the local economy,' he added. The centre will involve establishing a globally networked team in Ireland with team members and innovation partners based in the US and around the globe. These new jobs should be very attractive to seasoned technology professionals, engineering and technology graduates, highly creative thinkers and innovators in the e-learning space. The Irish company, Riverdeep, was founded in 1995 and, as a result of a series of mergers and alliances over the past decade, it has grown rapidly and now has over 50 companies in the new corporate family known as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH). In November 2006, Riverdeep merged with Houghton Mifflin bringing together the best in education textbooks and interactive digital curriculum. Houghton Mifflin was founded in 1832 and has a long tradition of excellence in publishing, including among its authors Mark Twain, JRR Tolkien, and Philip Roth. Riverdeep"s original founder, Pat McDonagh, who has since sold his interest in the company, bought Corbalton Hall and estate in Skryne, which he has restored to its original splendour. In July 2007, the company acquired Reed Elsevier"s US education arm, Harcourt Education Publishing. HMH is now the world"s largest educational publisher with over 100,000 customers, generating approximately $2.5 billion in annual revenues, profits in the region of $1 billion, 50 per cent market share of the US pre-12 market, the world"s largest education market, and approximately 6,000 employees. HMH also has operations and significant market penetration in countries as widespread as India, China, Saudi Arabia, Libya, UAE, Australia, Japan, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. Making the announcement, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said the HMH R& D centre will drive innovation in digital learning for children, globally and strengthen the e-learning industry in Ireland, adding further international credibility to an industry that has already gained a solid reputation in world markets. 'This investment represents a further justification of the Government"s decision to invest in the development of a knowledge economy, from the funding of basic research through to the practical supports for innovative companies like Houghton Mifflin', the tánaiste said. Fiona O"Carroll of HMH added: 'The new R& D centre will be a focal point for e-learning and educational innovation. Employees, partner companies and collaborating universities will be attracted by the quality of research, people, innovation and commercialisation activity in the centre. 'Our decision to centralise all digital development in our R& D centre here in Ireland and create up to 450 jobs is because we believe this centre provides the best hub located uniquely between east and west. The Government"s significant financial support has allowed us to base this decision on criteria beyond pure economics.' The deal is reported to involve the payment of the highest subsidies ever by government agency, Enterprise Ireland, over and above the normal guideline of €650,000. Moygaddy Park Developments says it intends establishing a 21st century innovation location, complete with sophisticated, world-class facilities, in an ecologically friendly, inspirational work environment.