Fianna Fáil local election candidate in Letterkenny James Pat McDaid has called for a report into the lack of IDA investment in Donegal over the past year.
James Pat McDaid
Mr McDaid said that while Dublin and other urban bases are benefiting, the Letterkenny region and Donegal continues to be ignored.
“I am calling for a greater focus by the IDA throughout Donegal. I am astonished that there has been so few visits by the IDA with Foreign Direct Investment companies since the beginning of 2010. This compares to the following amounts in the commuter belt area; 776 visits to Dublin, 70 visits to Louth, 17 visits to Wicklow and 7 visits to Kildare.
“Figures that Fianna Fáil received from Parliamentary Questions reveal the IDA has sponsored no site visit to Donegal this year compared to 14 such visits in 2013. In comparison, Dublin has 53 visits so far this year. Fianna Fáil has continually called for a report into the lack of IDA focus on the Donegal region. As the IDA plans its strategy for 2014, it is crucial that the Government now takes the need for regional fairness seriously.”
He added that it has been proven that when the IDA focuses on investment in a certain area, that area benefits from job creation.
“The infrastructure network is excellent and with a highly educated potential workforce from Donegal, the county has all the ingredients for Foreign Direct Investment. I cannot see any reason why the Government and IDA would not prioritise Donegal for FDI.
“The numbers on the live register in Letterkenny are 5,596 as at 25 April 2014 and it really should be a top priority that we get a big employer established in the Letterkenny area as a matter of urgency, so that some much needed employment opportunities are created for those exiting the Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
“It is not acceptable that we failing those that make the effort to better themselves – presently the choices are limited between (a) going on social welfare and (b) emigrating along with the rest of our youth. We must stop this trend and begin to offer real alternatives. I know that we can attract good employers, offering highly skilled opportunities, if the right effort is put into attracting them to the Northwest. Other areas have done this successfully – so can we.”
“The county has been let down by its TDs and I am calling for a full report on why the IDA is ignoring Donegal for site visits,” said Mr McDaid.
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