Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to discuss regional disparities. All Deputies continually mention the number of site visits made by IDA Ireland and how some counties get more visits. Limerick has done well over recent years. I remind the Minister that eight out of the ten unemployment blackspots are in Limerick city and 17 of the 79 unemployment blackspots in Limerick are still in the city. I remind her that not everything is hunky-dory.

There has been talk about attracting companies to locations outside of Dublin. Does the cost of housing in Dublin make it a less attractive proposition for businesses? Businesses have told us that rental costs are an issue. Has it put pressure on wages for people? Does the cost of housing and, therefore, wages in Dublin make the regions more attractive to businesses? Businesses could locate outside of Dublin yet still benefit from an educated workforce and a good tax base in the State. Has the housing issue meant that IDA Ireland has lost companies that have tried to come to Ireland?

I have raised the issue of the lack of broadband in rural Ireland with Mr. Shanahan before. Northern Trust has delivered more than 1,000 jobs at a location on the outskirts of Limerick city. A number of towns such as Cappamore, Caherconlish and Murroe circle the area. As I have said to Mr. Shanahan, the area is appealing because a person can get to work in ten minutes. However, when that person returns home, he or she cannot send a text or an email. Has a lack of broadband put people off developing more businesses, especially in the areas that Deputy Eugene Murphy mentioned?