John Carty (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, and compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, on a very comprehensive speech. It was positive rather than negative and we should take the central message from it.

The Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, made clear in a recent speech that the thrust of Government policy on the restoration of fiscal stability and a properly functioning banking system is to create the conditions in which economic growth will recommence and jobs will be created.

It is clear the decisive action taken to date is bearing fruit. The latest Exchequer returns show tax figures are on target for the period to end of April, indicating that this Government's firm action to correct fiscal imbalances has taken effect. The evident determination of the Government to take the necessary actions, however unpopular, to tackle this problem and our equally determined actions in the banking sector have significantly restored international confidence in Ireland, as evidenced by recent announcements of further investment in Ireland by IDA clients.

At every level of Government activity, jobs are at the heart of our strategy. The public capital investment programme for 2010 is expected to support almost 70,000 jobs in the economy and non-Exchequer capital investment for 2010 will be €3.4 billion, which is expected to support a further 30,000 jobs.

I appeal to the Government to exert pressure on the NRA to build new roads, particularly to the west. I accept that I am being parochial in this matter. County Mayo has some stretches of well-developed primary roads, namely, the part of the N17 that runs from the Galway boundary to the Sligo boundary, which is newly constructed and magnificent, and the part which runs from Castlebar to the Roscommon boundary. However, the N5, which runs through Roscommon and into Longford, is a disgrace. Money devoted to developing the N5 would be well spent. It would enable County Mayo and other western countries to attract industry. Building the road would create employment. More importantly, it would assist in enhancing the activities of existing industries and provide them with access to larger markets.

Ballina, Westport and Castlebar are home to large industries that depend on exports. Due to the state of the roads, however, these towns are at a serious disadvantage. The recent decision by An Bord Pleanála to uphold objections to upgrading of the N26 was wrong and has placed Ballina at a serious disadvantage in the context of its ability to attract industry. Mayo needs industry and has several assets at its disposal with regard to attracting it. The first of these is Ireland West Airport, Knock. It is hoped that an industrial park will be put in place there and plans are proceeding in this regard. I congratulate the relevant bodies and Departments providing assistance in this regard.

I hope IDA Ireland will endeavour to bring employment to peripheral areas, particularly those on the west coast. It is vital that employment should be created in the regions to ensure that communities can grow and sustain their existing populations. Despite claims in recent years to the effect that the Government misspent the money that accrued to the Exchequer during the period of the Celtic tiger, it is clear that many good things were done. Child care facilities were provided, community centres were built, sporting facilities were either provided or upgraded and new schools were constructed. This was all done for the benefit of young people. However, all this work will have gone to waste if there is no one around to use these facilities. In such circumstances, employment must be created and existing populations sustained so that communities might survive.

Enterprise Ireland is targeting the creation of 40,000 new jobs in the next five years. Through the multiplier effect, this is expected to lead to the creation of an additional 28,000 jobs elsewhere in the economy. The report of the high-level action group on green enterprise, published in November 2009, identified the potential to create approximately 80,000 new jobs in the coming years. Implementation of the recommendations of the innovation task force will create the environment for even more jobs to be created in innovative sectors of the economy.

The Government has taken decisive action to get credit flowing again to business, particularly the small and medium enterprises that are the main source of employment here. Undertakings required of the main banks in the recent recapitalisation exercise will ensure that they will repay the debt they owe to the taxpayers by restoring the flow of credit to enable business to exploit the opportunities offered by recovery in global markets. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, has met representatives of the banks and will continue to closely monitor the activities of these institutions to ensure that they fully honour the commitments given in respect of the matter to which I refer.

If employment is to be created, it is vital that small businesses have access to money. Having been so well catered for by the Government and the State, the banks must open their coffers and give money to small businesses.