Motion: Regional Jobs and Investment

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, expresses grave concern at the significant geographic disparities in the economy of Northern Ireland between those areas which have experienced economic prosperity and those areas which have been left behind, including the Fermanagh and Omagh Council area.

This Council;

Recognises that Invest NI has failed to spread investment and opportunity equitably across the North, including to this District.

Notes with grave concern that Invest NI helped to create just 34 jobs in Fermanagh and Omagh Council area in 2022/23, the lowest of any Council area.

Welcomes the publication of an action plan by Invest Northern Ireland (NI) to implement the recommendations of the recent review which revealed the scale of failure of Invest NI to work as a partner on a sub-regional basis.

Welcomes the proposal for legislation to address these regional economic imbalances through a Regional Jobs and Investment Bill.

Commits to responding to the consultation on this legislation.