Bruton under pressure on IDA strategy
Figures released by the IDA earlier this week showed many rural counties had barely been visited by its client companies for the last three years.
They also showed a number of counties had received IDA grants that were a fraction of the support given to their more populated counterparts.
Longford Fine Gael TD James Bannon said his patience was “running thin” and that nothing had been done about the lack of investment in jobs in the midlands. The IDA figures showed it had not brought a single client company to either Longford, Roscommon or Leitrim.
“I have taken issue with the Taoiseach and the minister for jobs on this issue,” Mr Bannon said. “I am very disappointed and I have been on to the IDA too in relation to their failure to facilitate Co Longford. We have the highest rate of unemployed in the entire country and I want to see this addressed urgently.”
The Longford TD said there was mounting public anger that counties such as his were not getting their “fair share of the cake”.
“I have taken this up with Richard Bruton. He has given me a commitment he will act on this. I have raised it at the parliamentary party meeting and I understand they are looking into it. He (Mr Bruton) hopes to come back to me by February 1.
Laois-Offaly Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan said he had, for a number of years, been critical of the IDA for its lack of proposals for his region, in particular Laois. In the IDA documentation, it emerged Laois received just €370,000 in grants from the IDA between 2007 and 2011, compared to €157m for Dublin.
He said there was a perception that Laois was well catered for through public sector jobs and so the IDA appeared to have neglected the two midland counties he represents.
“I have been pursuing Richard Bruton to order the IDA to carry out a skills audit to ensure the counties have a ready workforce when there are IDA visits.”
Roscommon-South Leitrim Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan said he was demanding the IDA explain to him why there had been no client company visits to his county.
“I have been talking to Minister Bruton regarding this and I would certainly think there should be much more referrals now.”
