Mayo loses out in IDA investment – Calleary

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs Dara Calleary has expressed concerns about the lack of IDA investment in Co Mayo over the past two years.

It comes after IDA today published figures showing a net increase of 6,570 jobs created in IDA supported companies last year. Deputy Calleary said that while Dublin and other urban bases are benefiting, Co Mayo continues to lose out.

The Fianna Fáil Deputy commented, “This report shows the success of the IDA when it focuses on investment in a certain area. The IDA must be commended for supporting the creation of thousands of jobs last year, building on the years of work and investment in growing Ireland’s reputation as a hub for the high tech and pharmaceutical sectors in particular. The problem is, that it is the same areas that continue to benefit again and again, while Co Mayo and many other areas along the west coast seem to be losing out.

“Figures that Fianna Fáil received from Parliamentary Questions, the IDA sponsored only 3 site visit to Co Mayo in 2012 and the first 8 months of 2013. There was just 1 IDA visit to Co Leitrim, 4 to Co Roscommon, 5 to Co Donegal and 5 to Co Cavan. This compares to 50 IDA visits to Limerick, 66 to Cork and 348 to Dublin. In fact, Dublin accounted for 55% of all IDA site visits in the first 8 months of last year.

“The IDA has now announced plans to build regional bases in Athlone, Waterford and Letterkenny.  We need to know why Co Mayo was ignored in this.  While these areas are certainly in need of a greater focus from the IDA, so too is Co Mayo.  Why has Fine Gael, and its four TDs in this county, not pushed the case for this?

“I first raised concerns about the deep inequalities in the IDAs work with the Jobs Minister Richard Bruton and IDA management a year ago, and I have questioned the Minister about the issue several times since. As the IDA plans its strategy for 2014, it is crucial that Fine Gael now takes the need for regional fairness seriously.

“It’s proven that when the IDA focuses on investment in a certain area, that area benefits from job creation. For instance, Co Louth received 19 IDA visits between 2012 and the first 8 months of 2013. The focus on Co Louth in 2012 resulted in EBay announcing 450 jobs in Dundalk that year, among other high profile job announcements in that county. The focus must now be on ensuring a much greater focus on counties like Mayo that are in desperate need of a jobs boost and have continually lost out.”