SINN FÉIN TD ATTACKS IDA’S “DISMAL” RECORD IN CO MONAGHAN

The IDA’s record of attracting foreign direct investment to Co Monaghan was branded “dismal” by Sinn Féin TD for Cavan/Monaghan Matt Carthy this week. Deputy Carthy said the IDA – or Industrial Development Authority – had failed Co Monaghan, bring just ten new jobs in foreign direct investment here in 2019 and 2020, and termed the IDA’s FDI policy “badly balanced in regional terms”. Commenting on information provided to the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Carthy said: “There were 23,791 new FDI jobs created across the State in 2019 and 2020. Just 10 of them were in Co Monaghan. This compares badly with almost every other county other than those that suffered significant job losses. “There is clearly a systemic failure to attract Foreign Direct Investment to this county which epitomises the poor regional balance strategy in this area. “Government representatives are quick to state that over half of new IDA employment is based outside of Dublin. What that means in effect though is that almost 50% of all FDI investment goes to a single county. “There are several reasons for this – poor infrastructure, particularly broadband and public transport plays a role – but key is the lack of political leadership from Government parties over many years. “It is clear that Co Monaghan requires a county-specific job creation strategy that encompasses the work being carried out by the Local Enterprise Office while….