Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the commentary by various organisations and groups about the impact of Brexit, it has been noted that the area that runs along the spine of Ireland from Longford and Westmeath to Waterford is particularly at risk of negative impacts from Brexit. Having been involved, along with my colleague, Deputy Howlin, in making provision for additional resources for both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, what I am concerned and extremely disappointed about, in the context of the document, is that the Government does not seem to have had the time to look at the requirements for a change of focus in both of those organisations. Such a change is particularly important if they are to assist in producing anything like the number of jobs outlined in the ambitions relating to the programme. The Government also does not appear to have had time to engage in a specific examination of the very real problems that exist in the context of accessing credit, especially relatively small-scale loans for starter and owner-operated businesses in rural towns and villages. The Government will not create jobs unless it encourages many new small businesses to start up operations. The Government will not get many large businesses transferring operations to the 300 towns it has identified. In the context of Brexit, there appears to be no alternative strategy to help small businesses in the areas to which I refer to get up on their feet. In order to do so, they will need access to credit.

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