Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

Unemployment figures in County Tipperary are well in excess of 14,000, which is significantly above the national average. Towns like Carrick-on-Suir and Nenagh, which did not benefit from the Celtic tiger, now find themselves with unemployment levels that are more than double the national average.

In respect of job creation by IDA companies in 2014, a mere 64 jobs were created in the county, 48 in south Tipperary and 16 in north Tipperary. In 2014, 78% of all IDA jobs were created in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway while 64 out of 15,000 jobs were created in County Tipperary. The county has been abandoned and forgotten about by the Government. Yesterday's announcement further disadvantages the county. What specific steps will the Minister take to ensure that job creation is available for the towns of Tipperary?

See this speech in context