Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

It would appear that indigenous home-grown job creation plans are being relegated to the subs' bench in favour of high-optic photo-calls of international announcements. Although all Members welcome the recent jobs announcements by SAP, Apple and other foreign direct investors, I have concerns as to the backbone of the job creation portfolio of this Government because it seems, in part, to be selective and it does not put the shoulder to the wheel when it comes to supporting ground-up solutions. The focus is entirely on foreign direct investment, ignoring the potential of the domestic economy and the urgency for same to be supported.

Speaking in a Dáil debate last month, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, stated: "Supporting balanced regional development and creating jobs in rural locations is a priority." However, to take one case in point, the Western Development Commission has published a report, Creative Sector in the Western Region - Future Growth Trajectories. This reports warrants real attention in an economy that is looking for answers as it outlines the possibility of creating 20,000 jobs over the coming ten years within the creative industries area.

Has a single Department read the report? Has any Department spoken to the statutory agency that wrote it? The answer is a clear "No". Across the seven counties, Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Leitrim, Roscommon, Clare and Sligo, this sector reported total sales in 2010 of €206 million, with exports close to €57 million annually. The potential 20,000 jobs are not getting there fast enough to stop the tide of emigration. Seeing the destruction of families and communities in my county, Donegal, is very painful. The very fabric of our social capital is being torn apart. Emigration is keeping the live register figures for County Donegal-----

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