Sinn Féin EU candidate for the Midlands Northwest, Matt Carthy, has said that Longford is "in dire need of jobs investment".

Councillor Carthy was speaking on a visit to the county where he launched the party's proposals for small and medium enterprises.

He said: With twice the national average unemployment rate, Longford is a county in dire need of investment in jobs.

"Businesses are regularly closing down on the main street here to be replaced by false facades. Longford is suffering from an unemployment crisis and little has been done by central government to rectify it.

"The last official visit here by the IDA was in 2011 which resulted in the creation of five jobs. Recently, after much pressure from local Sinn Féin representatives, James Bannon TD organised a visit by the IDA to the county, the recommendations from which were that some areas need a 'facelift'. A follow-up visit has been mooted but no date has been given."

Mr Carthy continued: "Sinn Féin has a plan to get areas like Longford working again. Our proposals for small and medium enterprises, which we launched today, outline ten steps that can be taken to effectively assist SMEs to develop and create jobs now.

"Our proposals, which we outline in detail, are to increase consumer demand; abolish upward only rents; tackle utility costs and rates; revive 'Brand Ireland'; open up procurement; end unnecessary license delays; resolve SME distress and priorities access to credit; increase labour intensive infrastructure investment and to tackle the costs of doing business on the border.

"For Sinn Féin, SMEs are the priority when it comes to fostering indigenous industry and ensuring job creation."

(JP)