SINN Féin TD for Kerry, Pa Daly, has sharply criticised the lack of IDA visits to Kerry over the last number of years.

He also wants to know why, COVID restrictions withstanding, why there was just one visit to Kerry in 2020 while neighbouring counties saw 15 or 16 visits.

Deputy Daly said: “I asked Minister Varadkar recently about the number of IDA visits to Kerry since 2016, including the year to date in 2020. Kerry is severely neglected compared to other counties, with a total IDA visits of 28 over the past four years and only one year-to-date in 2020.”

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“While a reduced number of visits in 2020 could be expected due to Covid-19, this sole visit in 2020 contrasts with 18 in Limerick, 16 in Galway and 15 in Clare for the same time period. Counties like Kerry and Donegal are habitually ignored.

“This needs to change going forward as Covid-19 has shown us all too clearly that Kerry’s reliance on a tourism economy cannot be guaranteed. I will be asking for Minister Varadkar for his co-operation in ensuring Kerry is not  left behind in future.”