I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 254 together.
The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) periodically publishes a report on the “Costs of Doing Business in Ireland”. This report benchmarks business costs against a range of Ireland’s key competitor countries in a number of areas, such as labour costs, property costs, utility costs and business and professional services. The report also provides an analysis of cost profiles of the manufacturing and services sectors.
In its most recent Cost of Doing Business report, published in 2011, the NCC identified improvements in Ireland’s competitiveness, particularly in relation to labour costs and property costs. However, the NCC also advised that further progress is required to ensure that Irish enterprises can compete internationally.
Some operating costs for business are largely outside the control of Government. For example, fuel and energy prices are heavily influenced by external factors such as global fossil fuel prices. However, the Government’s approach has been to identify those areas of policy it can influence to bring about cost reductions or provide supports to business. The Action Plan for Jobs 2012 includes an extensive range of measures across Government which will help to reduce costs and support job creation.
A range financial and non-financial supports and incentives are also available from Government Departments, Offices and Agencies to support employment creation in all sectors. These include schemes such as Revenue Job Assist, the Employers' Job PRSI Incentive Scheme and the Job Expansion Fund. Details of financial supports for business are available on my Department’s website, www.enterprise.gov.ie.