The IDA has questioned the spirit of Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Kenneally’s claim that it only created 176 jobs in companies that it assisted in Waterford last year.
In a statement to The Munster Express, a spokesperson said that “there were 485 new jobs announced by IDA client companies in Waterford city and county” last year.
However, the spokesperson conceded that “these jobs will be created over the next three to five years”.
The IDA were responding to criticisms made of it by Deputy Kenneally, who believes the authority must do more and be seen to do more to spur job creation in Waterford.
“We really need the IDA to step up and make better progress in attracting jobs to Waterford,” he said.  
“I’m far from convinced they are going the extra mile to get jobs into the city and county. We all know how hard the recent economic problems have hit Waterford so it is more important than ever that the IDA should be doing all they can to find replacement jobs for the area.”
Deputy Kenneally added: “I was greatly concerned to learn that only 176 new jobs were created in IDA assisted companies in Waterford during 2008. That is a disgraceful figure really.
See The Munster Express newspaper for full story.