There has been no IDA sponsored visits by companies looking to create jobs in Co Donegal so far this year, Donegaldaily.com has learned.
And on top of that there were just TWO such visits to the county last year.
The figures have been released by the Minister for Finance.
The details have led Donegal North West TD, Charlie McConalogue to slam the Government for its recent neglect of Donegal for IDA grants and investment.
Deputy McConalogue commented: “I find it incredible that not one potential foreign investor has been taken by the IDA to visit Donegal so far this year. It is clear that there is a failure when it comes to regional spread of IDA development, shown by the fact that most of the visits so far this year took place in Dublin.”
These figures come on the back of the decision last year by the IDA and Government to remove the base office for the North West Regional Manager from Letterkenny to Sligo.
“Earlier this year we also discovered that of the 61 new IDA backed investments in Ireland in 2011, not one was made in Donegal,” said Deputy McConalogue.
He said that Donegal has shown that it is a place where international companies can do business and succeed.
There are 12 current IDA funded companies in the county and these companies created a net 249 jobs in 2011.
“This is a significant creation in the current economic climate and is a strong basis for the IDA and the Government to demonstrate to new investors that Donegal is a county to consider and one where they can succeed.
“We need to see a change of approach from the IDA and the Government during the remainder of 2012. With the fair share of Government and IDA time and effort, I believe Donegal is a county which can attract companies that can make the County their home one where they can flourish” concluded Deputy McConalogue.
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