Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will elaborate on his recent reply to Question No. 110 of 28 February 2006 where he stated that the Government has found it difficult to attract new job opportunities to Ballina, County Mayo; his views on whether the Government is finding it difficult due to its failings in commitment to the west of Ireland and that the infrastructure and technology are not in place to attract jobs to this area; if the Border, midlands and western region underspend was addressed and rectified that this difficulty he speaks about would not exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9868/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I would refer the Deputy to replies he received to previous questions on this matter. In particular, I would draw his attention to Questions Nos. 354 and 355 dated 2 November 2005, Question No. 147 on 7 February 2006, together with my reply to Question No. 110 of 28 February 2006.

The role of my Department is to assist in achieving the Government's priorities, including those priorities designed to address the issue of job creation in areas such as north Mayo. As indicated in my previous reply, progress is being made in prioritising expenditure under the national development plan in the BMW region and the indications are that the underspend on a number of key infrastructure measures under both the economic and social infrastructure OP and the BMW regional OP is being addressed.

There is evidence to suggest that good progress is being made in achieving the objectives of the current NDP in the west region. Data published by the CSO suggest that the levels of total income per person in the west region grew from €14,420 to €18,487 between years 1999 and 2002 or 89.1% to 90.3% of the State level for those years. With respect to employment, growth in the number at work in the west region to the fourth quarter of 2005 is strong, with an increase of some 33,600 since the fourth quarter of 1999. The rate of unemployment in the region has fallen from 4.6% to 4.3% over the same period.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, has already outlined the Government's commitment to supporting job creation in north Mayo. A significant number of infrastructural projects are currently being developed or are planned for County Mayo and north Mayo in particular. These include plans by the IDA to acquire land in Ballina for the development of a high quality business and technology park.