750 construction jobs are to be created during the development of the new Center Parcs Holiday Family Resort in Ballymahon.

The project is also expected to create 1,000 permanent jobs on site.

Fine Gael TD for Longford Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden said it will become the shining jewel in the tourism crown for the Midlands region.

Mr McFadden said: "The announcement clearly confirms that this region is firmly on the radar when it comes to major job creation initiatives. I want to pay rich tribute to the work of all the stakeholders, primarily, Center Parcs, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton; the IDA, Coillte, the Longford County manager Tim Caffrey and his colleagues.

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"UK company Center Parcs has a proven track record in specially constructed holiday village resorts in a forest environment, and when initial moves were afoot for them to locate in Ireland, I was delighted to be able to assist in helping to secure the project for Ballymahon and County Longford.

"From an economic and tourism perspective, we cannot underestimate the huge benefits this Center Parcs family holiday resort will bring in terms of investment in the regional economy. The sheer scale and size of this development is truly breath-taking and when fully scaled up, it will create 1,000 permanent jobs on site, 500 full-time, and another 300 jobs indirectly. The project will involve the construction of up to 500 lodges and villas and the spin-offs in construction, food, hospitality and retail will also be hugely valuable to Ballymahon and the wider constituency."

(CD/MH)