Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I cannot comment on the Taoiseach’s plans for Ballinasloe. I know the town well. I am certainly happy to work with the Deputy to secure issues. However, I point out that there are facilities and opportunities through the regional enterprise plans programme. It is a bottom-up approach and I would certainly like to work with the Deputy on how we can input not just for Ballinasloe but also for Roscommon. In particular, developing a cluster around Athlone, to which the Deputy just referred, is a key priority that has been identified by the Minister, Deputy Coveney, within the new enterprise plan. The clustering approach is the only way we will secure investment. It is also about securing long-term investment by leveraging the experience in existing towns and centres such as Athlone and expanding them out. I refer to the success of places such as Monksland, which has been transformed in the past ten to 15 years. We need to leverage that enterprise experience out to surrounding areas.

See this speech in context