Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

IDA Ireland has a target to create 50% of all new jobs in the BMW region. This is stated as a policy in everything we read; the Minister answered a question in this regard in recent weeks and gave the percentages.

The fact that the Minister is unaware of this target probably answers my question. The target has not been reached in any year of the past seven years; levels of 36%, 41%, 44% and 45% were reached. That the target has not been reached may be explained by the fact that nobody knows it exists. Is the target to remain or will it be changed because it would be nice to reach it one year in seven?

The Minister mentioned the national spatial strategy but is there any intention to review its success? It has never been debated properly and it is felt that my county got a raw deal in the strategy. I understand that the strategy does not relate directly to the Minister's Department but this area is related to the original question.

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