Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 January 2014
112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which efforts continue to ensure the retention of the maximum number of jobs in both manufacturing and service sectors; the issue, if any, likely to impact on such efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3501/14]
View answer113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of jobs created in the course of the past three years to date in both manufacturing and service sectors in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3502/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.
The manufacturing sector, which has lost 50,000 jobs in the years up to 2010, has seen a modest return to growth in employment over the last few years, with an additional 8,000 jobs having been created in the last year alone. There are now 213,600 people directly employed in the sector in Ireland and when account is taken of indirect jobs supported, it now supports over 427,000 people. The Forfás Strategy for the Manufacturing Sector, which I commissioned and which was published last year, identified that an additional 20,000 jobs can be created in the sector by 2016. A complementary report was also published in relation to skills needs by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and Forfás.
Arising from the Strategy and the Skills Report, there are now a range of initiatives in hand by my Department and relevant Agencies to drive the 2016 target, with key actions from both reports having been incorporated into the Action Plan for Jobs. The Manufacturing Development Forum, comprising industry practitioners, is helping to address the key issues arising from the Strategy recommendations. These include delivering a National Step Change initiative to strengthen Ireland’s manufacturing base across all firms, redressing perceptions of the sector as a career choice and removing barriers to the competitiveness of the sector in Ireland. We must maintain and exploit our natural advantages and, in doing so, continue to attract foreign direct investment and develop our indigenous manufacturing sector, particularly in higher-value sub sectors, for example chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and food, amongst others.
In relation to the Services sector, this accounts for two thirds of total employment within Ireland. While the majority of service firms are not supported by the State, in respect of agency supported companies, the job creation trend is very positive. The Action Plan for Jobs 2012 outlined a range of sectoral initiatives to facilitate new and established services companies to grow, with particular focus on International Financial Services, Business Process Outsourcing/Shared Services, Education Services, Retail and Wholesale, Tourism, Construction Services and ICT Services. In addition, the recently published Medium Term Economic Strategy (MTES) has identified the Services Sector as a key driver of job creation and growth. The MTES highlights the opportunities in a range of sectors and it is envisaged that the forthcoming Action Plan for Jobs 2014 will concentrate to a significant extent on a range of actions to develop various aspects of the Services Sector.
In relation to jobs created in County Kildare in the manufacturing and services sectors over the last three years, such data is not readily available. However, non sector- specific details of jobs created and lost by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the County Enterprise Board, in each individual county, over recent years, were supplied by me in the reply to Parliamentary Question 47719/13 dated 12th November 2013, and this additional information can be forwarded by my Departmental officials if required.
