Regional imbalance and jobs
Mattie McGrath argues that Dublin dominates economic activity and wants investment moved to rural areas. The Taoiseach cites infrastructure, broadband rollout, and rising employment outside Dublin to show progress, while McGrath dismisses the claims as unrealistic.
During the programme for Government talks, we and the Rural Independent Group fought hard to get the Government to address regional imbalances in economic activity. What is happening in this area? A recent EUROSTAT report states that more than 50% of all economic activity in Ireland is now based in Dublin, the highest rate in any European country. This is a bad development. Dublin cannot cope and we badly need economic activity in rural Ireland. In line with the commitment in the programme for Government, what will the Taoiseach do to fast-track moving some badly-needed investment to the regions, especially to rural areas? We can cope with it because we have the road network and everything else. It cannot all be in Dublin.
Comment on this
Several things are happening, including the provision of better infrastructure to allow all parts of the country to share in our recovery and prosperity. Next week - perhaps even this week - the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, will open the Gort-Tuam motorway. I expect to see much more investment in infrastructure outlined in the ten-year plan, particularly in the context of connecting parts of the country that are not connected at present.
The Deputy will be aware of how the extent of the provision of high-speed broadband is galloping on apace.
Comment on this
That is not the reality. That is a dream: it is a con job.
Comment on this
Up to 300 additional farms are connected every week. The number of premises served has increased from 52% on the day this Government came to office only 14 months ago to 67%. It will be 77% at the end of the year.
One statistic the Deputy may be interested in is the extent to which employment is increasing in all parts of the country. There is a perception that there is not an increase in employment in all counties. However, there is such an increase.
Comment on this
It is only through JobBridge and Turas Nua.
Comment on this
Since 2011 and the change of Government, it will not surprise anyone that there has been a 17% increase in employment in Dublin. After that comes Louth with 14%, Carlow, 13%, Wexford, 13%, Meath, 12%, Monaghan, 11%, Galway city, 11%, Laois, 11%, and Kilkenny, 11%. That is further evidence that 70% of all new jobs created are now created outside Dublin.
Comment on this
That is because of all the people who have left the country and gone to Canada, for example.