Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business, Neale Richmond TD, recently paid a visit to Youghal on the invitation of local Cork East Constituency Fine Gael TD, David Stanton, to discuss employment and development opportunities in the town.
Minister Richmond and Deputy Stanton met members of the Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group, Youghal Chamber and Youghal Business Alliance in the Council offices to hear of the challenges being faced in encouraging local employment, business and tourism and the need to develop an assessment of need and retail strategy.
Deputy Stanton pointed out that investment in Youghal over the past number of years included the Waste Water Treatment Plant, the opening of the Clock Gate Tower, the Boardwalk, Pontoon and visitor buoys, St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, the town walls and the Raleigh Quarter while the opening of the Greenway will provide a further boost to the town. However, David Stanton acknowledged that despite this, many challenges remain, highlighting that: “The number of vacant property throughout Youghal needs to be tackled and we need to do more to encourage IDA and Enterprise Ireland to source investment and support local job growth”.
Following the meeting, the group were welcomed at the Youghal Enterprise Centre where they met local businesses and agencies such as the Youghal Community Employment Company before the trip concluded with a visit to the Raleigh Quarter and St. Mary’s Church.