IDA under fire as bulk of grants go to Dublin

The IDA gave 341 times more grant money to companies in Dublin than those in Kerry over the last five years, adding fuel to the notion that the authority is doing little to create employment outside the main population centres.

Figures released to Sinn Féin’s Peadar Tóibín by Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton show that between 2007 and 2011, the IDA gave out grants totalling almost €452 million.

But while Dublin got €158m and Cork received almost €90m, €461,000 was paid to Kerry-based companies and €370,000 to Laois companies.