Council urged to buy empty Quinn building

A Navan councillor has called on Meath County Council to purchase the former Quinn Insurance Group building in the town, saying that the council, rather than an outsider speculator or developer, should have control of the property. Cllr Tommy Reilly said that he was unhappy with the progress being made on the sale of the building. He wants an urgent meeting of the county council's Corporate Policy Group, comprising the four chairpersons of the Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs), along with the council cathaoirleach, and the council's own management team and county manager to discuss strategy in having the building bought by the council. The council had said in June that it was in constant touch with the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) about the future of the Quinn Direct building at Athlumney. Cllr Reilly had called on the county manager to provide an update from the economic development department of the council on developments in the case. Manager Tom Dowling said that the council was not currently aware of any confirmed proposals for the future use of the building. However, it was in constant touch with the IDA on the matter. The IDA had informed the council that it, in turn, was in regular contact with the administrators of the Quinn business. "It is their understanding that the sale of the business to Liberty Mutual is still being finalised. They have not yet been notified of any proposals that the new owners have for the building or when the building will be available and on what terms and conditions," he said. He said it was understood that the IDA was seeking to engage with Liberty as soon as the takeover was finalised. Cllr Reilly said this week that the corporate policy group meeting should be called immediately to explore the purchase of the 70,000 square feet building. He said that he was far from happy with the progress being made on the case. "The last thing we want is for this buiklding to be sold on to a speculator or developer for a knockdown price. It takes the whiole thing out of the hands of the council," he said. He said that while contacts had been made with the IDA he was not satisfied that sufficient progress was being made by the authority. "The IDA's record in Meath is not very good as far as I can see," he said. Cllr Reilly said that there were options for the building which should be explored. If the council bought it, it could be used to attempt to bring in a new business to the town, or it could be used as a new headquarters for the council itself. "I think myself that there is a need for new council offices in Meath. At the moment, the council has offices all over the place, some of them rented, which are unsuitable for a modern council in this day and age. I'm not talking about a fancy new chamber for council meetings but a proper building for the efficient running of the council. We have to take into account the conditions in which staff have to work. And it is the case that many of them are working in unsuitable conditions". He said that he knew the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan believed that local authority staff could provide a better service to customers if they had proper working conditions. "I believe that if the council moves to purchase the building, whether for a council offices or to entice in a new business to the Quinn building, taht the money will be made available. It is vital that we don't hang around waitng for developments. We have to be proactive", he said.