Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It comes back to what one fundamentally believes in. If one's view is that infrastructure will only be provided in certain sections on the east coast, investment will be concentrated on the east coast, people will move there and the Minister's burden of responsibility will increase in providing infrastructure after the event. It is no surprise that Kerry Group, to which Deputy Catherine Murphy referred, located in Naas because the infrastructure was available. This is creating a further intolerable burden on existing infrastructure which needs further investment. If one was to invest in the regions, Kerry Group might locate in Munster, rather than finding it necessary to locate in Naas. I am not suggesting this is the only reason it is based there, but we need to be serious about providing for balanced regional development. I want to see development take place on the east coast and it is right that it does, but it has to be balanced against the future growth of the regions, if the Government is serious about providing for this. The appropriate approach to take is to invest and further investment will follow.

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