“Trains and boats and planes are passing by, They mean a trip to Paris or Rome,
To someone else, but not for me, The trains and boats and planes,
(Lyrics by Hal David 1966.)
The Industrial Development Authority (IDA), smugly and at every possible media opportunity, boasts of its success in achieving strong net job performance, with 11,766 jobs created in client companies, mainly through foreign direct investment.
In first place, with some 54%, or 6,389 jobs created, was Co Dublin, while in second place was Co Cork, achieving some 1,979 similar job replacements during the same twelve month period.
Here in the County of Tipperary, the South of the county saw a mere ten jobs put in place, ( Fifth from bottom of the overall list, ) while in North Tipp (Bottom of this list, ) saw not even one single job created, during this same period.
These figures have not been concocted by me, but were provided courtesy of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr Richard Bruton, supplied in a written reply to Donegal Fine Gael Deputy Joe McHugh.
Meanwhile, up to 20% more cruise liners are to dock in Dublin this year, providing a boost to this city’s economy. Some 106 cruise ships are scheduled to stop off at Dublin Port in 2013, 18 more than last year. Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar has described the event as a highlight of “The Gathering,” latter as you will be aware is a year of celebrations aimed at getting Ireland’s Diaspora and other tourists to visit Dublin only.
This latter information is provided by Dublin Port, which has also given more details on a planned major redevelopment at Alexandra Basin and after Transport Minister Mr Leo Varadkar launched the Dublin Port Company’s Master Plan 2012-40, which sets out a framework for this long-term development of Ireland’s largest and most important port. Implementing this plan we, here in Tipperary, are told it will cost in excess of €600m over the next 30 years.
On Sunday September 15th, more than 30 different types of aircraft, including military, vintage and large commercial carriers, will fly as low as 1,100 feet for “FlightFest,” an Irish Aviation Authority and Dublin City Council’s joint venture. Up to a quarter of a million people are expected to line the quays along the River Liffey for this event. This sustained flypast through the capital will start at 2.00pm and take two hours to complete, with flights arriving at five-minute intervals. This will provide the people of Dublin, and those visiting the city, with an opportunity to see, at close hand, some of the best aircraft in the world, while contributing to attracting domestic and international tourists to where? Yes Dublin.
Today, the voluntary tourism group Hidden Tipperary received their annual request from CIE Tours International, seeking the admission rates for the year 2014 for St Mary’s Famine Museum. Included in this emailed request comes the statement, and I quote; “The 2012 season was a strong one for CIE Tours International. Our overall numbers increased significantly, resulting in more departures and a higher average number of passengers on each departure. Once again our plan is to continue to increase our volume of business into 2014. We must remain conscious of keeping our brochure selling prices as competitive as possible to allow us increase our passenger volume and for us to do this in 2014 we would ask for all our suppliers to hold their 2013 rates into 2014.”
This comes from a transport umbrella organisation that increased their rail fare price, from Thurles to Monasterevin, by over 100% in April 2011 last and from an organisation whose International tours have never visited Thurles in, at least, the last 10 years. (Note: Thurles.Info emailed Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr Leo Varadkar T.D. regarding this price increase in 2011 and as expected we received no reply.) So where is the Derrynaflan Hoard and other stolen Tipperary treasures which would attract some of CIE Tours International bus tour business? Correct again, it is in Dublin.
Today we know why rail fares were increased. The contract has now been signed for the start of the new Luas Cross City line and someone, least likely to benifit, must contribute to pay for Dublin’s rising economic activity. Work begins almost immediately on this 5.6 kilometre stretch from the Green line at St. Stephens Green to Broombridge, connecting it with the Red Line. Some 40 million people a year take the Luas in Dublin presently and this new connection will now add another ten million to that number. Meanwhile back home here in Thurles the potholes grow daily larger each day and the town becomes more and more suffocated by large vehicles, due to the failure to progress the long awaited Thurles By-Pass.
Today a leading outsourcing company Capita has announced plans to employ 800 new staff, thus doubling its existing workforce in Dublin. The Finance Minister Mr Michael Noonan stated; “It adds to what has been happening in Dublin recently and I think it’s the start of something that will create quite a buzz.”
Expect no “Buzz,” from elected Tipperary Fine Gael and Labour Oireachtas representatives, who continue to remain silent on the obvious development issues outlined above, but worst of all, expect no “whimper of discontent” either, from Tipperary taxpayers and those presently unemployed, for what can only be described as a deliberate and systematic destruction of Co Tipperary, by those who would now rule over us.
The government can steal or rob Tipperary treasures which would attract some visitors to the county. They use them in Dublin to make money for themselves. We will have to stand up and be counted.