FG accuses Minister of hitting west's economy

Fine Gael community, rural and Gaeltacht spokesman, Fergus O'Dowd TD, has accused the Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy of hitting the west of Ireland economy by cutting the summer jobs scheme from his budget.

"The majority of those who availed of the scheme live on the western seaboard in counties Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Cork and Kerry. Hundreds of students stayed home to work in their local communities in GAA clubs and schools and on summer tourism projects.