Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply and for the note he sent me outlining his plan to engage with all the relevant parties to ensure the workers are given support and training. He indicated that IDA Ireland will prioritise securing replacement employment in the area. There is serious untapped potential in Balbriggan. There are people in the town who can and should be able to work at home or close to their home. However, most of them have to get on a bus or train or into their car every morning to go to Drogheda or Dublin city. There is serious underemployment in the area although one would not think so from looking at the figures for Dublin as a whole. As the Minister knows, averages do not tell us very much. We need to look at the specifics. Does the Minister have a timeframe for the realisation of his ambitions for the area? Has he set a target for the number of jobs that might be created? There is no limit to the talent, imagination, energy and enthusiasm that the people of Balbriggan will show him if he can match it with supports and a plan for rejuvenating the town and bringing decent jobs to it.

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