Members of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have reacted to a review into Invest NI’s performance with one councillor deeming it a “damning indictment”.

Undertaken by Sir Michael Lyons, the review was “wide-ranging and fairly critical of Invest NI’s current practices and makes clear the need for profound change”.

Marked failures were highlighted, pointing to 17 areas of concern, and the review made 40 individual recommendations. It was supportive of increasing resources at a regional level.

At the Regeneration and Community Committee meeting, Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh, CCLA, said the report is “a fairly clear appreciation of just how dreadful Invest NI has been as a lead agency for economic development”.

He continued: “It is failing to deliver investment and jobs in areas like Fermanagh. The entire focus is completely skewed.

“As we have said, they [Invest NI] tend to focus on low wage, low productivity employment and companies taken over by foreign multinationals. They have completely failed our communities ... I see no ambition in Invest NI for this area.”

He reminded members: “We made the case for abolition [of Invest NI], but rather than dealing with institutional failure we have another report which will go on a shelf and won’t be implemented or of any real impact.

“There will be continued failure. There’s hardly an institution functioning in our society. There’s no accountability, and no hope of real change.”

Councillor O’Cofaigh called for economic development powers to be devolved to local authorities because: “The one thing which is working is [the] Council. We may have our criticisms, but we are locally accountable.

“Unfortunately, the report does not bring forward the recommendations we need to see real change for our community.”

This was echoed by Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Irvine, who referenced representations made by the Council on “the lack of funding for initiatives we could do, and a lack of cohesion at corporate level within Invest NI, as well as an overall lack of planning, going forward”.

He added: “When larger councils were created, a lot of economic development at local level was to be devolved. That never happened. It was retained at Stormont and we now see the fallacy of that argument.

“Even when Stormont was working, economic development wasn’t tackled properly. They devolved to an arms-length body who did not have critical oversight to ensure it was carrying out its job.

“It was given free reign, and we now see the problem of that. We are extremely pragmatic in trying to work for the good of the community.

“We should be given more power and a devolved budget, because our track record is outstanding.”

Councillor Emmet McAleer, Independent, described the review as: “A damning indictment of Invest NI and I query why they haven’t been disbanded, rather than having to be completely overhauled. I don’t know why they are being given a reprieve.”

Sinn Fein’s Councillor Barry McElduff told members: “Invest NI has always been too focused on Foreign Direct Investment, to the exclusion of support for small businesses.

“I would exempt the Omagh office, as they have served well, but we are hearing of massive tensions between the [Invest NI] board and senior management team,” alleged Councillor McElduff, continuing: “Only lip-service has been paid to the idea of balanced economic regional development.”

Independent Councillor Josephine Deehan agreed the Omagh office worked well “within the limitations imposed through existing structures”.

She continued: “It’s clear there has to be a major revision for whatever replaces or transforms Invest NI. The situation in the West is simply unacceptable, and there will have to be redress.”

Councillor Sheamus Greene, Sinn Fein recalled requesting previous Invest NI statistics per county, which showed that between 2002 and 2012, Antrim received £642 million, Tyrone £95 million, Londonderry £152 million, Armagh £124 million, Down £118 million – and Fermanagh £24 million.

At each extreme, this equated to Antrim receiving £2.30 per capita, while Fermanagh received £0.33.

“It’s actually quite shocking,” said Councillor Greene. “This organisation [Invest NI] has been failing for decades. It’s been raised often but nothing was done. It’s not fit for purpose.

“I was assured things would change, but I suspect in 10 years’ time, the same figures will be quoted, and nothing will have been done.”

Concluding the discussion, Councillor Eamon Keenan, Independent, noted the sentiments of all members regarding Invest NI: “Which is definitely not serving our district.”

He added: “They have failed, but Stormont also failed to hold them to account. There are those willing to run back to it and do the same again.

“The only ones holding these people to account are the councils, and we should get more powers to control the finances, because Stormont is not fit.”