Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I pointed out to Deputy Thomas Byrne, four out of five of the jobs created by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland last year were outside Dublin. Balanced regional development is a priority for the Government. The Action Plan for Jobs undertakes to ensure all regions experience growth in jobs, and the statistics show that is happening. Our plan up to 2020 is to ensure that of the 200,000 jobs we intend to create, 135,000 will be outside the capital.

Regarding the national planning framework, it is important to note that we do not yet have a final document. No matter where the Tánaiste and I visit, in every instance the representatives we meet will say their region is not included in the framework. That has happened in Limerick, the mid-west and in locations further south or north. The reality is that submissions have been made and the local authorities have been very vocal in their views, as have the chambers of commerce. I am sure that when the final document is agreed, and we have the three regional documents as well, it will be clear that all areas stand to benefit. It is important that we plan for the future and do not return to the days when there was no planning. Only by having proper planning processes in place can we ensure that all areas benefit.

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