Republican News · Thursday 26 June 2003

IDA figures for Border region "deplorable"

The latest figures for IDA job creation in the Border region are "deplorable", says Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. The IDA's annual report covering 2002 just published shows that employment in IDA supported companies in the east Border region fell between 2001 and 2002.

The IDA report also shows that none of the 20 new announced investments for 2003 are in the Border region. Only 7 of the 20 are outside Dublin and Cork. Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

"It is deplorable that these Border counties, which already have benefited so little from inward investment projects, have actually experienced a drop of 2.7% in IDA-supported employment," said Ó Caoláin. "Coming from a very low base, we have not seen the substantial benefit of inward investment which we should have seen in the wake of the peace process and the so-called Celtic Tiger. Central government has failed miserably to make up the deficit of decades.

"The failure of the FF/PD government of the past six years to provide proper infrastructure throughout the country and their neglect of regions outside the east and south is shown starkly by these figures. Only 7 of the 20 new investments are outside Dublin and Cork. None of these seven are in the Border counties. I will continue to press central government to reverse the disgraceful neglect of these counties."