It’s official, IDA not interested in job creation in Gorey

Published on Saturday, 18 April 2009 11:40

What has been patently obvious for years now, that the IDA is not remotely interested in trying to attract new industries to Gorey, was reinforced recently with the news that the Government agency has not brought a single potential investor to Gorey in the past four years.
So says North Wexford T.D. Michael D’Arcy who was told that the IDA had not hosted A SINGLE site visit by potential investors in that time.  He asked the question in the Dail recently of Minister Micheal Martin.  He says he’s angry, but not surprised, at the reply he received.  “It’s an outrage”, he said.  “This is the Government agency tasked with responsibility for securing new investment.” “Meanwhile we watch as new business goes to every other part of the country, and when they do come to this county, they go to Wexford town .”
Nor does he accept the explanation from the Minister; that the IDA’s strategy for Co. Wexford is to concentrate resources on Wexford as it is a designated hub town of the county.  “Concentrating all resources in Wexford town means that workers are obliged to travel for work.  Our poor public transport means that we’re putting a huge number of extra people on the roads, forcing them into extra travel each day.  That is pure folly.  Meanwhile those without their own means of transport cannot avail of jobs in Wexford.”
“While I appreciate that, as a hub town, there needs to be a concentration of industry there, it should not be at the total expense of other areas,” Deputy D’Arcy said.