Donegal Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has today challenged the IDA at the Oireachtas Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Committee to focus on new investment for the county.
The Committee was dealing with the impact of Brexit on businesses and job creation across this island.
Senator Mac Lochlainn said challenged the IDA to up its game on bringing new investment and jobs to Donegal at the Oireachtas Jobs Committee.
“I was surprised and alarmed at the rosy picture provided to the Committee of the IDA’s results in spreading inward investment and jobs throughout the State and particularly into Donegal and other border counties.
The IDA repeatedly refers to jobs growth at existing companies they support in the county and that is indeed welcome but we are asking where are the new companies and inward investment for the county?”
“Few counties in this State will be as impacted by Brexit as Donegal. From fisheries to tourism and from agri- food to engineering, there is a real threat to our local economy. To fix a problem, you first have to accept that there is one. It is clear to me that the IDA do not accept that in terms of site visits by potential investors and the locating of new companies supported by the IDA in our county, the last numbers of years have been very disappointing.
“The IDA needs to work closer with Enterprise Ireland, Udarás, LYIT, Donegal County Council and the Donegal Local Enterprise Office as a team to maximise the potential of this county and to minimise the impact of Brexit as much as possible”.
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