Fermoy army camp regeneration
Kevin O’Keeffe seeks employment and regeneration for the former Fitzgerald army camp site in Fermoy, citing regional job commitments. The Taoiseach says more than half of new jobs are outside Dublin and will ask the Minister to update the Deputy on the site.
The Government gave a commitment that 40% of foreign direct investment would be allocated to regional areas. In 2002, the Fitzgerald army camp in Fermoy closed and the lands were handed over to IDA Ireland. To this day they have remained unoccupied apart from a few stray horses. Is it possible to get employment into this site? It is a rural part of the country and Fermoy needs some regeneration. As late as last week, the Fermoy Forum was set up to hold consultation on how to progress the image of Fermoy as a vibrant economy locally.
Comment on this
As the Deputy will acknowledge, more than half of the new jobs created in Ireland are now being created outside the Dublin area. More than half of IDA Ireland-supported jobs are outside the Dublin area. I do not have any specific information on the Fermoy site, but I will ask the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to contact the Deputy with an update on efforts IDA Ireland is making to secure an employer for the site. Fermoy is a beautiful town and I have been there many times. It would benefit from an IDA Ireland investment.