David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach, Senator Reilly and the Minister of State for their co-operation. I tabled this matter to discuss with the Minister of State the jobs situation in Waterford and the south east. Specifically, I wanted the breakdown of the jobs created and lost in IDA and Enterprise Ireland companies in Waterford.

Some progress has been made in recent years and a spotlight has been shone, not just on Waterford, but also on the south east by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. It is welcome that we have had some positive announcements, employment figures have increased and unemployment figures have decreased. We have gone from being the region with the highest level of unemployment to the region with the second highest. Obviously, there has been some improvement and good work has been done, but a great deal more needs to be done.

I wish to the bring the Minister of State's attention to a report that I published for the joint committee in September 2013, entitled "South East Economic Development Strategy", or the SEED strategy. It called for the implementation of a long-term economic development strategy that would support a new model for the region based on sustainability, meeting the needs of enterprise and an alignment of national, regional and county objectives to ensure that all of the actors were working to a single strategy that considered the strengths of the region and the opportunities for job creation and retention.

The strategy also called for the establishment of a regional IDA office and director. I commend the fact that we now have a regional director. It is a step in the right direction, but it must be underpinned by a regional strategy focused on resources and playing to strengths. The strategy called for the south east to have the same IDA investment aid as the BMW region as part of a change in the regional aid guidelines. I welcome that this has been done.

A crucial element in the strategy is the need for a university. While this is not directly the Minister of State's brief, it has a major impact on the ability of the south east to sustain itself economically, to take advantage of any upturn and the excellent research and development capacity in the region, and to build on same, thereby creating new jobs.

The strategy also called for investment in the roll-out of fibre network broadband in the region, but that has not happened, and investment in the airport, of which there has been some but not enough.

I have been constructive in making proposals instead of just saying that we have a problem. I want to be a part of the solution, as we should be as public representatives. I appreciate the fact that a spotlight has been shone on the region, that the Government is focused on improving the situation and that a collaborative approach has been taken by Oireachtas Members from Waterford to the creation and retention of as many jobs as possible. Good work has been done, but it is now a matter of building on that work and getting information on the hard figures from the Minister of State. What has been done by the enterprise agencies?