Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

Will the Minister undertake in his Department an investment programme which specifically targets Ennis? It is his responsibility to promote enterprise, trade and employment. The manufacturing industry in the town continues to be eroded. While I acknowledge that the information age park which was opened last month is a fine facility, we need jobs for it which we are not getting. The Minister mentioned Industry Ennis, which is starved of the funding it needs to source and secure employment. While I acknowledge the establishment of Westpark Data Centre in Shannon for the database industry, which the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, launched last week, it will benefit the whole mid-west region, whereas I am calling for action on Ennis specifically. While there are many small to medium enterprises in Ennis, job losses occur among them also which we do not hear about. As the Minister has praised Ennis today, will he consider a specific investment programme for the town?

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