Laois TD and Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, has held talks with the Tanáiste and Minister for Jobs and Enterprise, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, to discuss the need for a greater IDA focus on Laois. The meeting follows a meeting convened by Minister Flanagan in Portlaoise in May where he met with IBEC and made the case for a greater enterprise focus on Laois given its strategic location and infrastructural advantages.
“I am very concerned by the latest figures which show an absence of IDA focus on Laois which has been historically neglected,” he said. “It is time for that neglect to end. Laois now has a very strong offering – it is strategically located between the capital city and the second largest city in Ireland.
“It has an excellent motorway network making it easily accessible. It has available sites and a hard-working and well educated populace – which is growing all the time according to the last three census. I have asked both the Chief Executive of Laois County Council and the Regional Midlands Skills Manager to examine the question of a skills
audit for the county to see if more training programmes are required.
“Construction is underway for a 100% fibre-optic network in Portlaoise which will give connectivity of 1,000Mbps. The roll out of this high speed broadband will make Portlaoise, in particular, an attractive town for business to operate from.
“I have had several meetings with the IDA and I am confident that these figures will grow. “Quality of life is so important to people today and Laois offers quality of life in abundance – with many good schools, amenities, heritage sites and recreational facilities – a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
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