Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We can all nitpick about business but counties Kilkenny and Carlow seem to be behind in terms of jobs created. Talking personally, in the figures I see 802 for Carlow and 762 for Kilkenny. Meanwhile Tipperary has 3,040, Waterford has 6,000 - which I do not begrudge them - and Wexford has 2,600. We seem to be the poor relation there. Is there any reason for that? Have we landbanks in Carlow-Kilkenny and land available for IDA Ireland to bring in companies that are interested? Of course companies want services, access to roads and so on. We have those, yet we seem to be falling behind in the employment numbers. I am not doing the poor mouth here, it is just that I have to fly my own flag.