Cork launches plan for 7,000 jobs > 'Cork needs jobs, not zombie banks'

Jonathan O'Brien and Chris O'Leary

CORK Sinn Féin has launched 10 Ways to Get Cork Working, aimed at stemming emigration and unemployment by bringing 7,000 jobs to Cork.

The proposals include:-

1. Immediate construction of high-quality broadband infrastructure;
2. Major strategic infrastructure such as the North Ring Road and the Eastern Gateway Bridge;
3. Building health and education infrastructure;
4. Creative ways of helping small businesses in the agri-food sector;
5. Helping small businesses survive and develop;
6. Ensuring that public projects, government or council, will create local jobs.

Councillor Jonathan O’Brien (Cork North Central) said:

Job creation is the biggest challenge facing Ireland. The relationship between jobs and the deficit is a clear one – more people in work produce higher levels of spending activity and tax revenues, as well as lower welfare payments.

We believe that scarce national resources should be put into job creation, not zombie banks or bondholders.

€7billion would be transferred from the National Pension Reserve Fund (NPRF) for a state-wide investment programme.”

We have outlined a number of essential key infrastructural developments for Cork which would in themselves create employment but, more importantly, would kick-start economic growth in the region.

Cork needs jobs, not zombie banks”

Chris O’Leary (Cork South Central) said:

Politicians cannot themselves create jobs but they can provide an environment for economic growth. These proposals will help create jobs and economic activity in the Cork region.

Most importantly, they will bring hope back to the economy and to society as a whole.

By using our scarce resources to invest in Cork, we will begin the difficult road to recovery.