Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy mentioned the tourism sector and there has been significant investment by State agencies, such as Fáilte Ireland, to ensure the tourism package in County Kerry is maintained. This supports and creates jobs. The recent decision by the Government to retain the VAT rate for the sector has had a significant impact in terms of job creation and the maintenance of the sector in the Kerry region.

The story is not all bleak in County Kerry. The IT in Tralee has a major competence centre and there has been serious investment in companies like Dairymaster, which is seen as an exemplar for the agrifood and business sector. Also, through the centre for intelligent mechatronics and sensors at the Institute of Technology Tralee and through the Kerry technology park, there is a strong emphasis and mood towards supporting high potential start-ups and towards ensuring we can concentrate on areas where Kerry has strong sectoral comparative advantages, particularly in the dairy or machinery sector. We will continue those investments. Enterprise Ireland, through the Department, is investing in the competence centre in ITT and that will create jobs in the long term.

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