Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The matter I wish to raise relates to the difficult situation in Loughrea, County Galway as a consequence of a number of lay-offs in recent times. The Minister of State is from the west and will know that County Galway, in particular, has been very badly hit by the recession, through the closure of various businesses and other facilities which were treasured and cherished by the local community. Loughrea, in particular, has had to contend with job losses as a result of the downturn in the international economy because a multinational company took a hit. Small businesses, pubs and restaurants have also suffered greatly from the spin-off effects of reduced spending in the town.

The unemployment register shows that 2,262 people are unemployed in the town and something needs to be done now. While many Government economic policies are aimed at enterprise and employment creation, they do not have enough of a rural focus. Employment creation and enterprise in rural areas need to be given a higher place on the policy agenda in the Department. The key stakeholders in Galway East need to be brought together with a view to creating jobs and promoting economic development in the area. Any job that can be created in Galway East is to be welcomed in the light of the high levels of unemployment being experienced. We must manage and address the unemployment crisis in the county. Currently, the level of unemployment stands at more than 22,000. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that this figure is unacceptable. It is dangerous to have such a high level in small rural towns.

The east of the county and Loughrea, in particular, need a coherent, long-term strategy which would align all of the relevant stakeholders and agencies in order to address the needs of the area and the region in general. If the Department is minded to set up a task force, it must take into account the needs of the area, the people of which must take advantage of its key strengths which include tourism, the arts, culture, agribusiness, food production, technology, engineering and the green sector economy. The crucial components are the enterprise agencies which must play a leading role and have the teeth to address the problem of large-scale unemployment in the county.

We must join forces with national, local and regional bodies to ensure those with responsibility for delivering on economic development and job creation will deliver for east Galway.

I will be pressing the Minister to set up a task force for the area and if one is created, targeted assistance should be allocated for small businesses in particular and job activation measures. My own town of Athenry and Portumna have suffered greatly as a result of the recession. In Athenry over 35 commercial retail units are vacant in the centre, and Portumna shares a similar story, which is most regrettable. If a task force is set up in the east of the county, it would go some way towards highlighting the issues affecting the county, and it is only with such action that we can address the problem.

I look forward to any response in this regard and I hope it will be as favourable as that afforded to Senator Cullinane. There is much focus on Waterford and the south east and I hope County Galway, and east Galway in particular, will not be overlooked.