Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government there is quite a significant section on balanced regional development, an issue I have raised on many occasions. Balanced regional development, while it may be occurring in some areas, is certainly not happening in my constituency of Roscommon-Galway. In terms of job creation, it is the area is most neglected.

Recently my colleague, Deputy Kelleher, tabled a question about vacant IDA Ireland sites. The reply showed that, nationally, 64% of IDA Ireland properties were vacant. Let me outline to the House the list in Roscommon-Galway. In Roscommon town there was 4.8 ha of land vacant; in Castlerea, 1.2 ha; in Ballinasloe, 8.8 ha; and in Ballygar, 3.4 ha. In small areas in Mountbellew and Glenamaddy and the Tuam business park which straddles the constituency there are 2.17 ha vacant. There is no attempt by the Government, no matter what notes come from the Chief Whip to the Minister, to create jobs in my constituency of Roscommon-Galway. I ask the Minister to seize the opportunity when thousands of jobs are being created in Galway. The fact of the matter, as I pointed out previously, is that 900 people leave my constituency daily to travel to work in Dublin. What will the Government do about it?

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