McLaughlin challenges Economy Minister on Derry investment

ECONOMY minister Diane Dodds has been challenged by SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin on the performance of Invest NI, after it was revealed that her Foyle constituency had one of the lowest levels of jobs created through financial support from Invest NI.

Ms McLaughlin, the SDLP’s economy spokesperson, has tabled a question in the Assembly: “To ask the minister for the economy if she believes it is unfair, unreasonable and unacceptable that the Foyle constituency with the highest unemployment and economic inactivity in Northern Ireland also had one of the lowest levels of jobs created through direct financial assistance from Invest NI of any Northern Ireland constituency in 2016/17.”

The Foyle MLA said: “These latest published statistics lay bare the reality that Derry has not only been left behind the rest of Northern Ireland historically, but also that the situation is actually getting worse.

“I have asked economy minister Diane Dodds if she accepts this is ‘unfair, unreasonable and unacceptable’ – and I can tell her that it is.

“The people of Derry demand better than this.

“A mere 221 jobs were created in the Foyle constituency in 2016/17 with the assistance of Invest NI financial support.

“This contrasts to 1,408 in Belfast South, 550 in Upper Bann, 431 in Belfast East, 425 in Newry and Armagh and 382 in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

“Foyle is near the bottom of the list in terms of the new jobs created through Invest NI financial support, just as it as the top of the list in terms of unemployment and economic inactivity.

“The SDLP is demanding economic equality and regional economic balance. Invest NI must play the core part, alongside government, in delivering this.

“We are all now worried about the impact of Covid-19 on our health, wellbeing, jobs and the economy.

“But what we do know is that it is the areas with the weakest economies that usually suffer the most in a recession.

“It is essential that when eventually we reconstruct our economy, we do so in ways that are sustainable and fairer.”

Jobs Created through direct financial support by Parliamentary Constituency (2014-15 to 2016-17)

PCA 2016/17

Belfast East 431

Belfast North 211

Belfast South 1,408

Belfast West 63

East Antrim 151

East Londonderry 75

Fermanagh & South

Tyrone 382

Foyle 221

Lagan Valley 263

Mid Ulster 370

Newry & Armagh 425

North Antrim 133

North Down 50

South Antrim 403

South Down 194

Strangford 105

Upper Bann 550

West Tyrone 470

Total 5,904

Answer AQW 3019/17-22 to question from Gary Middleton MLA of the DUP

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