Local newspapers in Longford, Laois and Offaly have accused the Government of neglecting them in the jobs bonanza and are demanding action for their counties.
"Toothless Tiger Fails Offaly" was the heading in last week's Offaly Express, which claimed on its front page that Laois and Offaly have been neglected by the State job-creation authority in 1997.
The Longford Leader, which celebrates its 100th birthday this month, carried a front-page heading, "Record new jobs created . . . but not here" The Leader said that neither the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Ms Harney, nor the IDA is able to point to evidence that a suitable tenant could be found for a vacant advance factory in the town.
The papers have been stung into verbal action over the recent announcement by the Tanaiste that 6,000 jobs are to be created across the country and 2,000 more will come on stream before Christmas.
The Offaly Express said: "Only 75 new jobs have been promised for IDA-backed companies in Laois-Offaly this year out of a national total of 15,820.
"Between 1992 and 1996 the number of jobs in IDA-backed companies in the east rose by a staggering 17 per cent while the neighbouring midlands showed a mere 6.2 per cent increase."