Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This Government and the previous one have tried to focus on the competitiveness proposition for Kerry.

You do not just bring multinationals in and place them where you want. They will go where they want to go and they will look at the options they have in Ireland.

It is our job to make sure we have regional development in every part of Ireland. We have set a target for IDA Ireland as regards delivery that it ensure that at least half of the companies in which it is investing and growing are outside the Dublin area. For Enterprise Ireland, at least two thirds of the Irish companies is growing and expanding must be outside the Dublin area, including places like Kerry. That is why the Government is investing in advance facilities in Kerry, has invested in a significant upgrade of the road between Cork and Kerry and has invested in MTU in order that Kerry now has its own university through a shared campus with Cork. All of that will mean more interest, more investment and more multinationals coming to Kerry over time. We have to persuade them to go there with a competitiveness proposition. I assure the Deputy that IDA Ireland is focused on doing that.

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