David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government committed to a jobs action plan with regional targets. Yesterday at the behest of the Chair, the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation met in Waterford city. We heard from academics at WIT and senior representatives of Waterford City and County Council. We heard about shocking figures in respect of the IDA. While the south east represents 10.5% of the population, it only got 1% of the net jobs that were created last year. There were only nine site visits to Waterford and only two to Wexford. That was described by the council representatives as appalling. It was also said that unless the Government commits to providing the relevant funding for the North Quays project, of which I know the Taoiseach is aware and for which a potential €500 million investment is contingent on €90 million funding from the State, the project will not go ahead. Why is the south east the only region where the Government is not meeting its targets? What further action will the Government take to ensure it does meet its targets?

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