Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2015
96. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which job creation, in both the manufacturing and services sectors, continues to be spread throughout the regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18894/15]
View answerThe Action Plan for Jobs since 2012 has set a comprehensive set of measures agreed by Government to promote job opportunities and employment growth in all regions. While every region and firm has yet to recover all the jobs lost in the downturn, the Action Plan for Jobs is having a positive impact with employment up in all eight regions of the country since the first Plan was launched in early 2012 (NUTS 3).
So as to ensure we recover all the jobs lost and establish sustainable platforms for growth for the future in the regions, as part of the 2015 Action Plan for Jobs I am leading the development of Regional Action Plans for Jobs. The development of Regional Action Plans, through a bottom-up process of stakeholder consultation, will identify those actions at regional level that can help achieve specific impacts in terms of jobs, sales and exports, entrepreneurship and startups, innovation and market penetration and access to talent. I have participated in stakeholder fora in every region over recent weeks and there is a consensus that to achieve these impacts there is a need to strengthen and deepen regional collaboration – that is through local authorities, regional bodies, and higher education institutions, the private sector and communities coming forward with innovative ideas to boost job creation in their area and working together to deliver on those actions. My Department is committed to working with stakeholders in the regions in identifying regional strengths, assets and areas of competitive advantage in order to support businesses to start-up, succeed, expand, and export so as to grow sustainable employment for the future.
The number of people at work in the mid-west is up by 2,400; in the west by 4,000; in the midlands by 8,900; in the south-west by 9,000; in the mid-east region by 9,100; in the border region by 11,300; in the south-east by 23,300 and in Dublin by 46,000. Over the same period there are 73,400 more people at work in industry and services, and 13,400 more people at work in construction
With regard to employment in Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies between 2012 and 2014, the manufacturing sector recorded increases of 10% in the Midlands, 9% in the Mid-East, 8% in the West, 6% in the South West, 6% in the Mid-West and 4% in the Border region since 2012. Overall, employment in the manufacturing sector increased by 5% between 2012 and 2014 to reach 185,545 full time employees in agency-assisted firms.
In the internationally traded services sector between 2012 and 2014, all regions experienced employment growth. Employment increased by 28% in the Border region, 18% in the South East, 16% in the South West, 16% in Dublin, 13% in the Midlands,10% in the Mid-West, 6% in the Mid-East and 6% in the West since 2012. Overall, employment in the services sector increased by 15% between 2012 and 2014 to 134,052 full time employees in agency-assisted firms.
