Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise the matter of 40 job losses in Ballina, County Mayo. The north Mayo area is in crisis and the fault lies with a Government that has failed to address the unemployment problem. How can Ballina survive when the unemployment rate is twice the national average? Ballina has lost 1,000 manufacturing jobs, net, in north Mayo with the closure of Asahi, Heneghans, Oasis and other factories in the past nine years as well as the loss of spin off industries. The area has been dealt a mortal blow and IDA Ireland seems incapable of delivering what is needed. It is unacceptable that IDA Ireland has no location for industry in Ballina.

The town lost 1,340 jobs and gained 400 replacement jobs, giving a net loss of 1,000 jobs. The number of people on the live register in Ballina exceeds the number for the entire county of Roscommon. The Ballina Chamber of Commerce is doing its best but does not have facilities to address the problem.

I urge the Minister of State to intervene. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland must work harder for the area. IDA Ireland states it has great difficulty securing jobs for the area because manufacturing companies prefer to locate in Dublin and larger centres with the scale, infrastructure and services capable of sustaining the investment.

The area needs balanced regional development and, specifically, roads, rail, broadband and technology parks. The area is not competitive as it does not have the infrastructure needed. I urge the Minister of State to consult his colleagues in Government on this serious situation. Replies from the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, and IDA Ireland suggest the lack of balanced regional development is the core of our problem. I ask the Minister to galvanise IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland into action.

See this speech in context