Intel shortlists site in Galway for major plant

Where exactly is the Defence firing range in Oranmore?

If you walk into the unused IDA business park, look over the fence on the left.

You will see a lane leading from the main road, alongside the IDA site, and continuing on.

AFAIK, that lane is the access to the firing range.

Ardaun is where they'd be expected to live.

From my years in Intel, it's hard to describe how big an effect this would have. Intel has had a massive effect on Ireland, never mind Leixlip. It is exactly the type of cutting-edge manufacturing that we want here. The beauty is that the majority of Intel employees either will already be highly educated or will go further into education through Intel, which is great for the people of the region. I have been to many fabs around the world and the areas they are in have all boomed from their arrival. Also, it would push up salaries around the region.

The downside is increased prices of houses, renting, services, etc. That being said, I just think this level of development in the west would be amazing If this is announced, I will be on Daft that day for any and all cheap houses I can purchase!

Apparently we are up against Germany. I have been to Germany a few times with Intel at various sites (They bought a part of Infineon a few years ago) and they do have vast tracks of land. The downside for Germany is that salaries are high across the board, very tough to find skilled labour (Hard to see how it's that much easier here) and higher corporate tax plus social security.

Can I see it happening? I am hopeful but have concerns around the power and water availability of the site. Intel in Leixlip used 1.7 million m3 of water in the last four months. For reference, Boston Scientific in Galway used 100,000 m3 of water in the whole of 2010. Semiconductor manufacturing uses a crazy amount of water. That is an absolutely monumental amount of water and, if I am not mistaken, a previous pharma company had to pull out of coming to Oranmore after they could not get a supply of water.

This is a very "Im Alright Jack" type of mentality

You have a job, so we shouldnt look to secure any new ones - what about future generations? Don't you want your children/grandchildren to have a chance of getting a good job? Because pulling up the ladder as you advocate is a big f*ck you to the younger generations

Oranmore is beside the sea. Shouldn't be a big problem to build a link to it and a filtration plant if it secures anywhere near the number of jobs quoted

From the limited research I have conducted, I don't believe Intel conducts any desalination of seawater. This is entirely possible but it takes a massive amount of electricity, which would probably make the plant unviable relative to another site with adequate fresh water.

A quick search reveals that 3kwh/m3 is the going power consumption these days for desalination. If we presume all water is from the sea, that is 3*1.7 million so 5,100,000 kwh every 4 months. At 13.26cent/kwh ("Electricity prices for industries with an annual consumption between 500 and 2,000 megawatt-hours stood at 13.26 euro cents per kilowatt hours."), that is 670k euro or 2.01 million in yearly electricity costs just for desalination. Obviously, this is not including the huge capital layout for setting up such a desalination plant.

Ahh, so its an anti immigrants angle you're pushing. You shouldve just said so from the beginning and stopped hiding behind housing price concerns

After looking at the satellite maps, it looks like the site has the potential to be much larger. Its probably not all owned by the state but this particular block all looks to have the same features (Tracks, lack of agriculture etc). If I am not just randomly taking away someones huge farm or in the wrong place, id say Intel are liking the huge potential to expand too.

Intel are on a massive recruitment drive at the moment. They are taking on several hundred people this month. Induction starts for some on Monday. These are quality, wellpaid jobs - if it comes to be true.

I hope it is.

They are very well placed to build and staff any new fabs. They are hoovering up all the college grads at present. Ads EVERYWHERE.

Exactly - the Galway site would be near to 2 motorways, and 2 Universities* in Galway city. Could link up with Intel sites in Shannon and Cork.

And near enough to trainline too