And Independent TD Thomas Pringle is just the lastest person to express disappointment after reading the High Level Report on employment prospects in Killybegs.
“Everyone welcomed the creation of the group in Killybegs in June by Minister Coveney on his first visit to the town,” said Deputy Pringle.
“We all know that there is potential for job creation in the fishing industry, particularly in adding value to the fish that is already landed in the town and people hoped that the high level group would create a plan that would clearly map out how this could happen.
“Hopes were raised hugely when the chairperson of the group announced last week that eighty jobs had already been created by the report. Many people waited to see the report and where the jobs are, however we were disappointed to find that the jobs may be delivered over the coming years as grand aid is rolled out and are not on the ground at the moment.
‘The report was quietly launched by Minister Coveney in Dublin last Wednesday evening. On receiving the report on Thursday I read it with a sense of anticipation but unfortunately it did not last.
“There is scant detail in the report and the actions required are not significant. The main recommendation appears to be that a port manager be appointed that would have responsibility to develop the business of the port. Given that the report has to be implemented on a cost neutral basis it is hard to see how the manager can be appointed and work independently to ensure that the port develops appropriately.
‘The target job numbers for each of the actions do not show where or how they will be created and the lack of detail is disappointing. However we all hope in Killybegs that they are achieved, and more, but it is difficult to see how they will be verifiable jobs. Previously when there was talk of efficiencies in the processing sector it has meant job losses for many people in the town.”
The local TD said that the bringing together of the stakeholders that were involved in the drawing up of the report is the “one real positive.”
He added: “If Minister Coveney wants this report to be different to the government’s jobs initiative he will need to drive the implementation of all the reports and make sure that his officials are working with everyone to make it happen.”
Minister Simon Coveney has rejected a claim by former fishing industry leader Joey Murrin that the State’s new jobs plan for Killybegs is a “charade”.
Mr Murrin, who ran for Fine Gael in the European elections in 1984 and is a former Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) chair, said the jobs plan was a “cynical public relations exercise” which could “give people false hope”.
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