Minister: Artificial intelligence could help companies in rural areas
The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) may aid companies in working from rural areas, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Niamh Smyth, has said.
In response to a parliamentary question from Michael Collins TD, on the number of employment opportunities created outside of Cork City, Smyth said:
"We all want to create the balanced regional development the Deputy has spoken about.The introduction of AI may allow companies to do that and allow people to work in more rural parts."
Deputy Collins raised the issue during parliamentary questions in the Dáil on Thursday, February 20. The Cork South-West TD asked the minister about the number of jobs in areas such as the Beara Peninsula, Mizen Head Peninsula, Sheep's Head Peninsula and areas from Innishannon to Bantry.
Responding to the question, the Minister said that 26,026 people were employed in Enterprise Ireland-supported companies in Co. Cork, a net increase of 846 jobs during 2024.
She added that there was also positive job creation recorded across the three local enterprise offices (LEO) based in Co. Cork, with 3,076 jobs supported by 618 LEO clients, which represents a net gain in 2024 of 119 jobs.
The foreign direct investment (FDI) performance in the south west, which comprises counties Cork and Kerry, has been consistent over the past five years, with employment among Industrial Development Authority (IDA) clients increasing by 17% the minister said.
There were 235 IDA client companies in the region, employing more than 51,000 people in the area. In Cork, there are 219 IDA companies, employing 49,898 people. Recent announcements in Cork indicate that Ireland’s value proposition remains strong, Smyth stated.
Deputy Collins said that he had raised the issue during the last Dáil term and did not receive the location-specific answers he was looking for.
"I am very concerned, especially living on a peninsula myself, about the peninsulas and where the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is focusing on in areas such as the Beara Peninsula, Mizen Head and Sheep's Head. How is the Department creating jobs and what kind of jobs is it creating?" He said.
"These areas have had a downturn in agriculture because farming is going through a struggle at present. Fishing has been decimated in those peninsulas. I see a wave of cars leaving west Cork every morning going to Cork City," Collins added.
