Action Plan for Jobs

Thursday, 10 October 2013

Questions (21, 44)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

21. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the impact of the loss of graduates to emigration on the Action Plan For Jobs. [42578/13]

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44. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on whether the lack of employment and career development is a key determinate of emigration; and the steps he will take to tackle the issues. [42579/13]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 44 together.

I recognise that there has been an increase in emigration, particularly amongst young people, since the start of the recession. However, CSO data also indicates that significant numbers of Irish migrants have been returning to the country since 2008. For example, 20,600 Irish people returned to Ireland in the year up to April 2012, and a further 15,700 returned up to April 2013. Many of them are coming home having gained skills and expertise abroad that we can now capture to strengthen the operation and management of companies based here. Some have also set up their own businesses and therefore help to support the objectives of the Action Plan for Jobs.

Lack of employment opportunities during the recession has, no doubt, contributed to emigration in recent years. However, even during the so-called “Celtic Tiger” years, Irish people chose to emigrate for career or personal reasons.

A recent survey by UCC showed that 47% of Irish emigrants had full time jobs when they emigrated, while just under 40% wanted to travel and experience other cultures. Others will have moved within their company to postings in other countries as part of a career development or global mobility plan. Many of these emigrants will gain important skills and insights from working overseas, but may well return to Ireland in the future.

We are also more engaged with those who have emigrated, through the Global Irish Network. The Government has put in place a mechanism, through the Global Irish Network, to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of the diaspora, as well as using their personal networks to communicate to others the recovery that is happening in our economy.

The diaspora are also active in attracting new companies to Ireland. Last week, along with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, I announced that four companies are establishing new operations in Cork and Dublin under the “Succeed in Ireland” scheme which harnesses the power of the Irish Diaspora to attract foreign companies that are expanding internationally. The companies involved in last week’s announcement will create a total of 83 new jobs in the economy. “Succeed in Ireland”, which is an Action Plan for Jobs initiative, is a practical example of how Irish emigrants are supporting our objective of generating more employment for all who wish to live and work in Ireland.