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Job Creation Targets

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 January 2014

Thursday, 23 January 2014

Questions (25)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

25. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will set out his priorities for job creation over the next three years; the extent to which the young unemployed are likely to benefit; if he continues to be satisfied regarding the competitiveness of our economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2897/14]

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Written answers

The Government’s Action Plan for Jobs has set the objective of supporting the creation of 100,000 extra jobs in the economy over the period 2012 to 2016 through a series of annual measures aimed at improving Ireland’s competitiveness and making it easier for enterprises to do business. Broadly speaking, the Action Plan for Jobs envisages that an extra 20,000 jobs can be created in manufacturing activities, while 30,000 jobs can be created in internationally traded services. These will support a further 50,000 new indirect jobs in the economy.

The latest employment statistics published by the Central Statistics Office (26th November 2013) show that employment increased by 58,000 in the year to Quarter 3 2013. Increases in employment have been recorded in eight of the fourteen economic sectors categorised by the CSO, including a number which are targeted for attention under the Action Plan for Jobs, such as Agriculture, ICT, and Accommodation and Food services.

The Government is tackling the issue of youth opportunities in the labour market through the combined efforts of the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. Through these strategies, the Government has brought in a range of new initiatives such as JobBridge, Springboard, Momentum, JobsPlus, and the ICT Action Plan, to help people to upskill or enter employment. These schemes provide opportunities for all people who are unemployed, including young people.

The 2014 Action Plan for Jobs, which will be published shortly following its approval by Government, will include a number of additional measures to support youth employment.

Through the Action Plans for Jobs in 2012 and 2013, the Government has focused on measures aimed at restoring our competitiveness position and creating a supportive environment for businesses operating in Ireland. Ireland is rated highly internationally as one of the best countries in the world in which to do business, and we have built a strong competitive basis on which to compete on global markets. Ireland has moved up to 17th place in the IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013, having being ranked 24th only 2 years ago. Ireland is ranked 15th in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2014 report, while Forbes magazine recently named Ireland as the “best country for business”, up from sixth position in the previous year.

While Ireland’s competitiveness has improved, we must continue to do more to ensure that these competitiveness gains are not eroded as the economy begins to recover. The Action Plan for Jobs will continue to be the key vehicle for the identification and delivery of specific policy measures that will bring further improvements to our competitiveness position and support job creation.

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