“It’s Official – IDA is ignoring Co. Monaghan” - Carthy

Sinn Féin expose neglect of government agency

Detailed figures obtained this week by Sinn Féin paint a very damaging picture on the record of successive governments in relation to bringing Foreign Direct Investment to County Monaghan.  Details released by Minister Richard Bruton in response to a parliamentary question submitted by SF’s Jobs spokesperson Peadar Toibín show, for the first time ever, the huge disparity, from county to county, of IDA activity.  County Monaghan is at the bottom of almost all indicators.

This week, South Monaghan Councillor Matt Carthy hit out at the IDA and at successive governments for their failure to provide any employment in this county over the past number of years.  In terms of grant aid Monaghan was joined by just three other counties (Cavan, Leitrim and Kilkenny) in receiving nothing of the €450m spent by the IDA.  In visits by potential investors, organised by the IDA, only one was arranged in County Monaghan since 2009.

In fact the numbers employed by IDA backed companies in County Monaghan had dropped by to just 285 last December from 350 in 2007.  The corresponding figures for neighbouring counties IDA employment as of December was:  Cavan 1,016; Louth 1,080; Meath 1,116.

Cllr. Carthy has said that this is a scandalous situation.  He remarked:

“I, and others, have been arguing for years that the IDA is purposefully ignoring County Monaghan.  But Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Ministers have repeatedly told us that it is just that foreign companies don’t want to come to Monaghan.  The truth is now exposed – the IDA is not even letting companies know we exist!

“One visit from a single potential investor since 2009 has been arranged by the IDA in County Monaghan.  How could we possibly attract investment with a record like that?  For decades Monaghan has suffered an exodus of our young graduates because we have had nothing to offer them at home by way of employment in their spheres of education.  Even during the height of the Celtic Tiger this was the case when Monaghan graduates were forced to remain in cities like Dublin to find employment.  Now they’re in Australia and Canada because there is no work at home and Fine Gael tell us they’re making a ‘lifestyle choice’.

“When we have met the IDA in the past they told us that companies didn’t want to come to Monaghan because we had no third level university.  But the information received by Peadar Toibín shows that many other counties without a university have fared much better.  The fact is that Monaghan is accessible to Dublin, Belfast and Derry.  We have a reasonable road network and we have thousands of young, educated people living in the county or eager to return home if the opportunity exists.  Of course it would be better if we had a rail network and a university but what we miss most is the political will to prioritise Co. Monaghan for Inward Investment”.

Cllr. Carthy said that he will be seeking support from other Monaghan councillors to seek an urgent meeting with the IDA and Minister Bruton to bring a very clear message that the neglect of County Monaghan will no longer be tolerated.

Detailed figures obtained this week by Sinn Féin paint a very damaging picture on the record of successive governments in relation to bringing Foreign Direct Investment to County Monaghan.  Details released by Minister Richard Bruton in response to a parliamentary question submitted by SF’s Jobs spokesperson Peadar Toibín show, for the first time ever, the huge disparity, from county to county, of IDA activity.  County Monaghan is at the bottom of almost all indicators.

This week, South Monaghan Councillor Matt Carthy hit out at the IDA and at successive governments for their failure to provide any employment in this county over the past number of years.  In terms of grant aid Monaghan was joined by just three other counties (Cavan, Leitrim and Kilkenny) in receiving nothing of the €450m spent by the IDA.  In visits by potential investors, organised by the IDA, only one was arranged in County Monaghan since 2009.

In fact the numbers employed by IDA backed companies in County Monaghan had dropped by to just 285 last December from 350 in 2007.  The corresponding figures for neighbouring counties IDA employment as of December was:  Cavan 1,016; Louth 1,080; Meath 1,116.

Cllr. Carthy has said that this is a scandalous situation.  He remarked:

“I, and others, have been arguing for years that the IDA is purposefully ignoring County Monaghan.  But Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Ministers have repeatedly told us that it is just that foreign companies don’t want to come to Monaghan.  The truth is now exposed – the IDA is not even letting companies know we exist!

“One visit from a single potential investor since 2009 has been arranged by the IDA in County Monaghan.  How could we possibly attract investment with a record like that?  For decades Monaghan has suffered an exodus of our young graduates because we have had nothing to offer them at home by way of employment in their spheres of education.  Even during the height of the Celtic Tiger this was the case when Monaghan graduates were forced to remain in cities like Dublin to find employment.  Now they’re in Australia and Canada because there is no work at home and Fine Gael tell us they’re making a ‘lifestyle choice’.

“When we have met the IDA in the past they told us that companies didn’t want to come to Monaghan because we had no third level university.  But the information received by Peadar Toibín shows that many other counties without a university have fared much better.  The fact is that Monaghan is accessible to Dublin, Belfast and Derry.  We have a reasonable road network and we have thousands of young, educated people living in the county or eager to return home if the opportunity exists.  Of course it would be better if we had a rail network and a university but what we miss most is the political will to prioritise Co. Monaghan for Inward Investment”.

Cllr. Carthy said that he will be seeking support from other Monaghan councillors to seek an urgent meeting with the IDA and Minister Bruton to bring a very clear message that the neglect of County Monaghan will no longer be tolerated.