Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The figures are crucial to all of this. I accept it is before the Minister's time, but hopefully with the Minister in the position now, as a Border Minister, she will be able to deliver. The facts are that in 2012 Dublin had a huge number of visits and we had three; in 2013, we had two; in 2014, we had one; in 2015, we had none; and in 2016, we had two. In 2012, Monaghan had no visits; in 2013, it had one; in 2014, it had none; in 2015, it had two; and in 2016, it had two. I ask the Minister to ensure that in 2018 and 2019, the national planning framework increases those numbers. We have two vacant sites. There is one in Cavan and I appreciate the Minister has appointed somebody with responsibility for the region. There is also a vacant site in Monaghan. Since the beginning of my time on Cavan County Council in 2009, there was a constant battle with IDA Ireland to make Cavan and Monaghan places that are exemplary in attracting new businesses.

I ask that the site visits for 2018 and thereafter increase from the abysmal figures I have just mentioned.

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