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Seanad
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IDA visits and Meakstown school

Summary

Senator Gallagher complained that IDA site visits are concentrated in Dublin and that border counties are neglected. He then raised a separate case about a promised new school in Meakstown, Dublin 11, and asked the Leader to bring the Minister to explain the refusal.

I came across data released recently by IDA Ireland showing the number of site visits conducted throughout the State for three quarters of 2018. Of the 461 visits to date, over half were in the greater Dublin area. It is not surprising that, unfortunately, counties like Monaghan, Cavan and many others have only received one visit to date. There is nothing new in these statistics. Nevertheless, they continue to be disappointing. Thankfully, counties like Monaghan, Cavan and many other Border counties and other counties throughout rural Ireland have many indigenous employers that create employment in those areas. Only for those people, God help us, I do not know where we would be. It is disappointing that many families in these counties have worked hard to put their children through primary school, secondary school and on to university. They have paid hard with fees and big money for rent so that students of the families can be educated in universities in Dublin and the other cities. Unfortunately, once that process is complete they have to wave goodbye to their children because there is no employment for these qualified people in their home counties. This is something that needs to be addressed. We have been talking about it for long enough. We need to ensure that foreign direct investment and high-paid skilled jobs can be located in rural Ireland, especially in Border counties like Monaghan and Cavan and so on.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Skills to come to the House to explain to the good people of Meakstown in Dublin 11 why he has refused to go ahead with a school for that area?

Comment on this

Can Senator Gallagher repeat the name of the school please?

Comment on this

It is in Meakstown, Dublin 11. That particular part of Dublin has a population of over 10,000 people. The Department and the Minister have refused to go ahead with a new school for the area despite representations on behalf of the community. I am saddened to say there is a deficit of social infrastructure and facilities in that area. The people are disappointed and heartbroken that the Minister and the Department have refused them a new school. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister to the House at the first available opportunity so that he can explain the reason he made that decision.

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