Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is good to hear. I will ask one or two regional questions. Cork has been mentioned as a place that gets significant investment, and it does. However, as we all know, Cork is a large county. I come from north Cork, which does not get the same penetration, and I am keen to discuss that. We have EMC in Ballincollig and VMware, which is an amazing success story that would not be there otherwise. I know this because I have a close relationship with those involved down there. They give great credit to Mr. O'Leary and his team for what is happening down there, and the spin-offs that have resulted for Ballincollig have been incredible. The company has recently opened a new plant in Mahon. Macroom has Nutricia, and Millstreet is another success story. In the 1980s the IDA did a great deal of work there. It is a small town - the one that I live in - with only approximately 1,500 people. In the 1980s Apple came to Millstreet. Then the plant closed down. IDA Ireland came in and we now have ALPS there, which will celebrate 25 years in business this year. It employs approximately 600 people as well as some seasonal work. The spin-off to that area is phenomenal. It is an example of where a region works really well because of the commitment that exists. I was a small girl when the company came first and I do not remember all the details but my understanding is that one of our local people built the factory and it was a case of "If you build it, they will come." I am unsure whether that works all the time, but that was a good example of when it did. However, Kanturk is a complete black spot. There has been no investment there for several years. Our bakeries are gone. It is a major food and agricultural area and one would have thought that some areas could have been examined in that regard. I have been in touch with the Cork office about Charleville on many occasions and it is an area that has a good deal of engineering. One of the things we were asked to do by IDA Ireland was a skills survey. We have now completed that at a cost to the community of between €20,000 and €25,000 and we are getting support from the locals to figure it out. What will the next engagement be? Charleville is between Cork and Limerick. There are significant numbers of people in Cork and Limerick and therefore it has a good deal of potential given its location. How do we develop Charleville with an IDA Ireland footprint? I appreciate that when people come here to set up businesses we do not have a choice and cannot tell them where to set up. How can we sell some of these regions better? Now that we have carried out the skills survey, what is the next plan?