Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the initiatives her Department is earmarking or launching in order to curb the escalating rise in unemployment in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2784/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In recent months I met with the Donegal County Development Board and an IBEC north-west delegation to discuss employment in the county. I have arranged for the expert skills group in Forfás to carry out further research on the labour market needs of the region and I expect this to get under way shortly.

The key to enhancing employment in Donegal is the development of infrastructure, particularly roads, water, energy — including electricity and gas — air access and broadband communications, and a programme of work is being implemented in these areas. The Government, along with the industrial development agencies, is committed to ensuring balanced regional development, particularly through the implementation of the national spatial strategy and the recently announced decentralisation programme which should facilitate economic development in Donegal.