Lack of IDA visits slammed by Fianna Fáil

Lack of IDA visits slammed by Fianna FΡil


Edwin McGreal

The lack of IDA-sponsored visits to Mayo have been slammed after figures released by Minister for Trade Richard Bruton following a parliamentary question from Mayo-based TD Dara Calleary.
The figures showed that there had been only two IDA-sponsored visits by potential overseas investors to Mayo so far this year and Dara Calleary said when you compare that to 152 visits to Dublin this year, Mayo is receiving very little priority.
“The IDA does fantastic work, but it is responsible for creating jobs in not just specific areas, but for the entire country. Proper infrastructure has been put in place in many areas around the country, but there has not been the multinational investment anticipated.
“The many Mayo people who returned home from abroad for Sunday’s (All-Ireland Final) match only reinforces the lack of an industrial base in the county,” he said.
Labour’s Cllr Harry Barrett, a member of Castlebar Town Council, has lobbied for positive discrimination for the west of Ireland and says these figures just further highlight the neglect of the west when it comes to industrial opportunities.
He said he has three questions for An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann Paddy Burke and Mayo’s three other government TDs regarding government policy in relation to the west and to Mayo.
“Do they accept the figures as presented, showing Mayo at the bottom of the IDA visits table? Do they accept that a continuation of this poor showing will result in the further decline of our town and county; and that a consequence of this will be more unemployment and further stress on families and local business?
“Do they accept that a policy must be put in place immediately to discriminate for the West; one that will focus, in particular, on counties that are losing population? ”
He said that after the Taoiseach spoke recently in The Mayo News about putting the national question before local issues, it was time for that to change.
“The current policy as espoused by an Taoiseach, of not being seen to discriminate for his own area is unacceptable and untenable in the context of the IDA figures provided here; the continued  lose of population through emigration; the continued decline in western house prices and the continued increase in the unemployment figures in Western counties.
“The West has been neglected by previous Governments and has ended up with poorer infrastructure. I contend that this wrong must be righted by a Government showing vision and purpose by having a policy that will make it more attractive to locate in the West than it would be to locate anywhere else in the country and one that would make it easier to stay in business by addressing the rates on Western business.”