Smartply announcement is a great boost for Kilkenny – O’Neill

Fine Gael Kilkenny Senator Pat O’Neill, has today (Thursday) welcomed the Government’s approval of  a €59 million investment in Kilkenny company SmartPly based in Belview, Waterford Port, South Kilkenny. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, today announced the approval, with the agreement of his colleague, Brendan Howlin TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

“The news of this major investment of €59 million in SmartPly is a really great boost for Kilkenny and surrounding counties. SmartPly is a huge player in the forest products sector in Ireland, using forest thinning to manufacture innovative building products for export to 32 countries worldwide.

“SmartPly have been a really important part of the Kilkenny economy for almost 20 years, creating jobs and boosting industry in the area. Minister Coveney estimates that the facility at Belview supports over 400 direct and indirect jobs in the South East region.

“I am delighted that this investment will be used to upgrade the current plant at Belview, and to develop a new innovation centre. This is a real mark of SmartPly’s commitment to Kilkenny for the future, and local people can look forward to the continued economic prosperity the company brings to the county and wider region.”