Archaeological report could make or break ambitious plan to create 'a few thousand jobs' 2,000 jobs for Navan

AN ambitious plan to create over 2,000 plus jobs in Navan is in jeopardy because of possible planning restrictions at The Mollies.
As Prepaid Financial Services announced 50 new jobs in a major expansion in Navan last week, CEO Noel Moran, warned proposals for a further expansion at The Mollies site with the potential to create more than 2,000 jobs could come to a halt depending on archaeological reports.
He said the last “showstopper” would be approval from archaeologists who are currently doing a dig on site.
"We will have their final report in two weeks time. If the report shows various walls from the old medieval abbey that they insist have to be preserved, then it will mean the end of the project and it will continue to be used as a drug site in Navan and will probably never be developed by anyone.

"I hope this is not the outcome and we can continue to create more jobs locally but there is so much red tape for an entrepreneur to try and move forward with a project like this you would lose the will to live during the process.
"We keep our fingers crossed and live in hope that we will get the green light before the end of March which will then allow us to submit a formal planning application to create a few thousand jobs locally.

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"We have invested a huge amount of time and effort into this project over the last 18 months. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes. The local council have been very supportive and we have worked together with the council to remove all barriers to make it happen. To date, we have invested over €500,000 into the project but we have nothing to show for it," he said.
He pointed out the Mollies project would also create ancilliary jobs for the town.

"The numbers we are envisaging would bring benefit to many other local businesses in the town. All the employees have to eat and have lunch somewhere, as well as shop and drink. There would be opportunities for everyone to benefit and it would be  a great landmark for Navan to have one of the largest FinTech centres in Ireland. Let’s hope it happens!"

Mr Moran explained that the site at The Mollies is the most suitable site for an office location with it being only minutes’ walk from the town, with ample parking facilities for employees.
"It also has a very nice setting along the riverbanks which we proposed to turn into a community walkway and amenity centre along with creche facilities for the staff and a gym for public use. It is hard to get a site that meets all the needs and if we are refused on this one we certainly won't be trying a second site," he said.

The proposed site for Financial Services Centre would be south of the Blackwater, on the site of the old British military barracks and De La Salle School off the Inner Relief Road. Mr Moran owns the site on the Inner Relief Road, which saw service as a barracks, school and textile factory.

If the proposal goes ahead, Meath County Council is expected to sell the adjacent Kells Road car park for use in the project.
"It is a very exciting project for Navan and we will continue to work with Mr Moran," said Meath County Council director of services, Kevin Stewart.
Meanwhile PFS is recruiting 50 new staff for an immediate start, as the company continues to experience significant increases in business.

David Kinnear, Group Head of HR stated: "We are looking for exceptional software developers, devOps engineers, data centre support, head of technical infrastructure and technical project manager (processing platform). We believe that we provide some of the most exciting and challenging opportunities combined with outstanding career development prospects.
“Applicants are invited to visit www.prepaidfinancialservices.com/en/careers/”

Mr Morans PFS and EComm companies currently employ 134 people in Navan and plan to fill the 50 new vacancies immediately and they will operate for the moment from the company's premises in the IDA Business park.
Mr Moran said; "Office space is an issue in Navan and we do not have many options to expand locally. So, for now, we will have to house as many as we can into our existing office in the Business Park in Navan, but we have plans in progress to obtain an additional office in the coming months.
"Unfortunately nothing happens quickly in Ireland or certainly not as quick as we would like it to happen. There is red tape everywhere and you nearly need permission now to move an office chair from one desk to another. It can be frustrating."

Mr Moran is delighted to be bringing jobs to his hometown of Navan and believes it has many advantages as a hub for the Fintech industry.
"Location outside of Dublin is a key advantage as well as access to local skilled staff who have worked in the payments industry for the last number of years but no longer want to commute to Dublin, Dundalk or Cavan. We have a very low turnover of staff when they do start," he said. 
"We are delighted to be able to offer these jobs locally and we hope we can fill many of them with local candidates from the Meath and surrounding areas. 
Locals will always be given preference where possible and of course it should be beneficial for those working in Dublin or further afield as it will save the three-hour round trip commute to Dublin on a daily basis. It would also be great to see some of our ex-pat community have an opportunity to return home, maybe having worked abroad for the last number of years, in the same way as I have."

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