Under the heading "Regional Spread of Growth and Jobs" on page 41, the programme for Government reads: "We will implement regional jobs plans, with local input, to help spread growth to all areas. The aim of these strategies will be to encourage agencies and companies to work together and build on the competitive strengths of each region." This week in my constituency of Tipperary, 11 local companies have lost their contracts with the Garda College in Templemore due to the Government's change of policy on tendering. This is just another example of the Government's disregard for rural Ireland and job creation in rural areas. The contracts were vital for the viability of the 11 local companies. The Government's decision is putting all of them in jeopardy.

I am not familiar with those particular contracts, but the way contracts work is they go out to public tender and people can tender for them. Whether the businesses are located in a rural or an urban area, one in the Deputy's home county or one in the next county, they are all free to tender. This is a democracy and this is a free market. That is all I can say about that.

Regarding the wider issue in terms of job creation, I am very pleased that we are now in a situation whereby between 70% and 80% of new jobs being created in Ireland are now being created outside of Dublin, that we are seeing unemployment fall in every county and that employment is increasing in every county. I particularly welcome the announcement today of 350 new well-paid good jobs in County Carlow with MSD.