Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Over the past two years in particular we could count on one hand the number of IDA-led investment visits to County Kerry. Such visitors to the county are almost as scarce as the corncrake, which is almost extinct. This is a ridiculous record. The IDA has utterly failed County Kerry. I believe it is time for the Government to step in. We are basically on a par with the south east, where there is a jobs plan in place to deal with the crisis situation there. We have an unemployment rate of almost 20% in County Kerry and but for the tourism industry, much of which involves part-time jobs, it would be higher. I compliment all of those involved in the retention of the VAT rate for that sector. We need sustainable jobs and I call on the Minister and Minister of State to promote some activity to help the county.

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