Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The South East Economic Monitor report produced by the Waterford Institute of Technology, WIT, school of business confirmed that unemployment in the south east is at crisis levels and is rising. It currently stands at 12.5% compared to other regions that are experiencing a national trend of 8.4%. The report finds further that the quality of employment in the south east is dramatically lower than the national average and continues to deteriorate. The report also identifies that the reason the south east economy is struggling is due in large part to the inactivity of the IDA, Departments and Enterprise Ireland in the region over the last three decades. The south east is missing a total of 6,312 IDA-supported jobs. I am delighted the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy John Halligan, is here because he understands this.

In Tipperary alone in the last few months, we have seen the closure of Suir Pharma in Clonmel with the loss of 134 jobs, Ranbaxy in Cashel with the loss of 140 jobs and of Clonmel Chemicals and Gleesons in Borrisoleigh. Two of those companies were indigenous, homegrown companies that had survived a number of recessions and gave valuable employment over the years.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, in his previous incarnation as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation announced an action plan for jobs for the south east and that the IDA would, over five years, invest €150 million in a capital investment programme to help attract more multinational jobs to the regions. Yet, there was no mention of County Tipperary in that report, even though the Minister, Deputy Bruton, came to Tipperary for a wife. I am surprised he forgot about us.

The south east and County Tipperary, in particular, cannot endure this level of underachievement and underinvestment. The focus of the IDA must be improved. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, escalate the activity of the IDA to drive inward investment into counties like Tipperary and restore fairer and more sustainable regional balance in terms of unemployment?

I was delighted to be a part of the Taoiseach's negotiations on the programme for Government. The goal of the new Government will be to deliver 200,000 jobs by 2020, of which 135,000 will be outside of Dublin. I think that is very important. I am not anti-Dublin but it is vital that we work to eliminate the two-tier economy that is emerging in our country. This is even more important in light of the inevitable economic impact of Brexit after the recent referendum. Will the Taoiseach, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and all Departments to look at rural-proofing any legislation they introduce and insist that the IDA step up to the mark, carry out more visits to County Tipperary and be more encouraging and supportive of businesses?

See this speech in context