This article is from page 2 of the 2006-04-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
THE failure of the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to create any new jobs in Clare or the midwest in 2005 was yesterday branded a disgrace.
Fine Gael deputy, Michael Noonan, said the IDA were doing “very badly in the Mid-West,” in terms of creating jobs.
The agency provided no grants for new jobs last year in Clare and the mid-west and only 25 the previous year.
There were 23 visits by potential overseas investors organised by the IDA to Clare and the Mid-west. In all, since 2002, there had been 97 visits.
Shannon Development organised 84 visits by potential investors to the Shannon Free Zone since 2002 with 22 visits last year.
The figures were revealed in the course of a Dáil reply by Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister, Micheal Martin, to a question tabled by Deputy Noonan.
Minister Martin said that the number of potential expansion jobs approved for assistance was 254 in existing companies last year and 332 the previous year.
“From 2002 to 2005 a total of 15 projects were approved for assistance by IDA Ireland in the Midwest. These projects had the potential to create over 1,900 jobs in both new and expanding enterprises.
“Also, in the period 2002 to 2005, a total of 1,950 jobs were created in IDA supported companies in the region,” he said.
However, Deputy Noonan said yesterday that the mid-west was not getting its fair share.
“The main economic Ministries are elsewhere and that is where a lot of the jobs are going,” he said.
“There needs to be more attention on the Midwest. To have created no new jobs last year and only 25 new jobs in 2004 is disgraceful.”
Deputy Noonan also claimed that the number of site visits by potential investors to Clare and the mid-west was “a problem.”
“Two site visits to date this year is very meagre. Inward investment has dried up in the mid-west and this should be acknowledged and it must become a political issue”.
Deputy Noonan said that the continuing uncertainty over Shannon Development was not helping the situation.
Last July, Minister Martin announced a new mandate for the company, but it has yet to be implemented due to union opposition.
“I thought it was a bad idea at the time, but in order to bring certainty to the situation, the new mandate should now be implemented,” said Mr Noonan.