Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to address this matter with the Minister. I raise it because of the low number of visits to Laoighis-Offaly by companies invited here by IDA Ireland. The figures are actually unbelievable and astounding. I have raised this locally and regionally with IDA Ireland. I welcome the fact that the Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, is present. He will recall my raising this in his office last year with representatives of industry and commerce from Laoighis-Offaly, the county manager and other Deputies. The taxpayers of Laois and Offaly are wondering what is happening in regard to their contribution to the IDA Ireland's budget of €86 million, which I understand is its allocation. Given the number of visits to countiesd Laois and Offaly last year, one wonders how such a cost arises. If the NRA and Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport stopped funding roads in the area, the people of counties Laois and Offaly would not be expected to pay road tax.

The figures are absolutely astounding. In the past three years there have been but two IDA Ireland-organised visits to County Laois by prospective companies.

There have not been any visits so far in 2012. There were two in the entire three year period in County Laois. County Offaly has had nine visits: seven in 2010, one in 2011 and one so far in 2012, yet Laois has had only two. In the same period Dublin had 484 visits. I understand that the capital city would have more visits as it is a large population area but Laois-Offaly should have had more than two. There is a major discrepancy in that regard. I understand IDA Ireland's budget is €86 million, which is a huge amount of money, and those of us in Laoighiss-Offaly are wondering about our part of that.

There are huge opportunities in Laoighiss-Offaly There are enterprise centres and vacant IDA Ireland premises across the counties in Portlaoise, Mountrath, Mountmellick, Portarlington, Birr, Edenderry and Tullamore. To take Portarlington alone, there is a huge Avon factory in Portarlington mainly under the control of NAMA because of the current position. There is a huge opportunity there and I know NAMA and other interested parties would like to see that used for something more purposeful. I ask the Minister to give his attention to that.

Regarding the jobless figures in the two counties, there are 17,856 people on the live register in both counties. That is a huge number of people who are unemployed. Myself and other local representatives have tried to highlight that and to seek ways to improve the situation.

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