Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate, one of the most important debates of the past 11 months since we were elected as Deputies. We all agree that jobs must be the number one priority not just because they are important in the drive to get the economy back on track but also, and more important, to meet the needs of the people the economy should serve.

I shall deal with IDA Ireland and its strategy. Although I and my party support the move towards inward investment which forms an important part of the jobs infrastructure, I wish to consider the regional performance of the IDA. Last year, the IDA performed better than normally, which is welcome. It was 20% up in respect of the number of jobs it brought in throughout the State in 2011. In Laois-Offaly, however, there was no improvement in the IDA's performance; it actually got worse. In spite of good infrastructure the situation deteriorated. There are now 17,993 people unemployed in Laois-Offaly, in spite of massive emigration.

The two counties have good infrastructure, with Laois served by the N7, N8 and the N80, which connect to the ports, airports and major cities. Offaly is connected by the N6 and N80 and both counties have good rail connections. The number of IDA-backed companies in Laois has fallen from four to two in 2011 and employment in these companies fell from 124 to 100 people, an all-time low. Offaly did not fare much better. The number of IDA-backed companies remains stuck at ten, while those working in such companies dropped by 47 last year.

The total amount allocated to IDA-backed companies in Laois came to a grand total of €370,000 in 2005-10, the smallest amount in the State. The total for Offaly, which does not fare much better, is €510,000 over that five-year period. This compares to €6.4 million in Westmeath, which is deserved by the good people of Westmeath, and €40 million in Kildare. It is very poor and weak and I ask the Minister to take note of it. The number of client visits in Laois in 2011 amounted to two, with one in Offaly. This is appalling when there is good infrastructure, business parks and empty units. As a councillor, I asked the IDA about this point and why it is not paying attention to Laois and Offaly. Westmeath had 15 visits, rightly so, and Dublin had 150 visits in 2011 and 197 in 2010.

There is clearly an imbalance and in the midlands region. We can contrast the difference between the number in Westmeath with the number in the two more southern counties in Leinster. I do not argue against Westmeath because there should be 15 visits but I ask why the IDA is not dealing with Laois and Offaly. There is something wrong and the taxpayers in Laois are asking me to ask the Minister and the Taoiseach what is happening with their money. This is a publicly funded organisation, which is we fully support and from which we want better results. We must ask why we are not getting a bang for our buck in Laois and Offaly.

In order to get good economic development, we need balanced regional development. The Minister understands that we should have balanced regional development but it is not reflected in our industrial development policies. I ask the Minister to raise this with the IDA. Regions such as the midlands must be prioritised and jobs must be created.

We must have affordable access to child care if lone parents are to be brought back into training and employment. Some 60% of them are already at work, despite the myths. However, community crèches will not survive without good community employment schemes. These are necessary to provide training and skills to allow those working in them to move on to more permanent employment. I ask the Minister to take this on board because progression to full-time employment is important. It is cost-effective, a good service is provided and there is a 20% progression rate despite the recession. I asked the Minister to take it on board.

Regarding construction, vacant local authority housing stock lies around the country and is under the control of local government. Why are we not renovating it and getting rent into the council? On an economic basis, we should renovate and insulate those houses and let them so that local government receives rent. This also addresses housing needs and creates employment in the process.

We need to move quickly with wind power, reduce the amount of imported fuels and create energy security. Whether on the right or left of the political divide, we all agree that we need energy security. We need to retrofit houses. The Institute of International and European Affairs estimates that 1.4 million houses require an upgrade to bring them to the C1 standard, which will save €1,496 per year for the average household and reduce our energy costs. This could be financed through a ten-year bond, where people continue to pay the same energy bill and repay the difference to a green fund. I ask the Minister to take this point on board.

See this speech in context