Clare needs more IDA Action

WHILE Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara has welcomed the establishment of Local Enterprise Offices in each local authority with more funding, more staff and more services, he still maintains the IDA needs to do more on the jobs front.

Deputy McNamara said he was hopeful that the fusion of local authority and county enterprise board effort under the guidance of Enterprise Ireland will lead to the creation of new local businesses and jobs.

“The plan which will combine new supports with business services currently delivered by the enterprise boards is a good one. A “first-stop shop” located in local authority offices makes sense. There will also be additional services including a new Young Entrepreneurship Fund, Microfinance Ireland, Credit Guarantee Scheme, and access to services from Revenue and Department of Social Protection,” he said.

However, Deputy McNamara said that local effort can only achieve so much and the IDA needs to be much more pro-active in Co. Clare where foreign direct investment is concerned.

“I cannot see why the IDA have not succeeded in attracting more hi-tech companies as the Shannon area has all the facilities which these businesses require.

“I understand the IDA has been working in a very difficult environment and is doing very good work for the country as a whole. However, we don’t want Dublin to expand like a city-state while the regions are diminished. We need balanced regional development and government and state agencies must address this question with greater urgency,” he said.