Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's response is very disappointing and disheartening. My question specifically referred to the engagements she has had with the State agencies, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, with regard to trying to ensure they can up their game to deal with the challenge of Brexit. The Minister did not deal with that in her response. We need the Government to totally change its approach to the prioritisation of County Donegal by IDA Ireland in particular. In 2015 and 2016, there were 11 IDA Ireland visits to the county while in the same period there were 446 in Dublin. Just two of the approximately 600 new companies that have come to the country in the past nine years have come to Donegal. Existing companies in the county, such as Optum and Pramerica, do well and continue to bring in new employment but we are not being prioritised by IDA Ireland for new employment. What engagement has the Minister had with IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to try to improve that situation?

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