Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
517. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new jobs that have been created in the digital gaming sector here in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37900/13]
View answerThe 2013 Forfás annual employment survey, which involves a survey of all employment in companies supported by the enterprise development agencies, will be conducted in October with its findings published by year end. While this survey will provide data on employment created in a range of sectors classified by internationally agreed NACE codes, the digital gaming sector will be included under the wider ICT sector and, as such, it will not be possible to provide data relating solely to the digital gaming sector.
A study published in October 2011 by Forfás entitled “The Games Sector in Ireland: An Action Plan for Growth” stated that employment in the digital games sector had increased five fold to 2,500 since 2004. The report estimated that employment in the sector could double to 4,500 by the end of 2014 if approprate supporting actions were taken. It was for that reason that, in July 2012, I established the Digital Games Clustering Development Team, which comprises representatives of industry and Government Departments and Agencies, for the purpose of ascertaining how best the recommendations in the Forfás report could be implemented.
In accordance with the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, the Clustering Development Team is currently working with my Department, assessing options for the creation of a new financial instrument/relief to incentivise creative content development in the games sector. The Team is also formulating proposals to develop an appropriate model for a national centre which will bring together students, games developers and entrepreneurs so that Ireland will be best placed to grow employment in the digital games sector. In accordance with the timeframe outlined in the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, the Team has indicated that it will be presenting its proposals in this regard to me before year end.
