Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 March 2017
28. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts she is making to secure and create employment opportunities in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14419/17]
View answerThe Regional Action Plans for Jobs are aimed at maximising the strengths and assets of each region, to support enterprise growth and job creation. This has ensured that 61% of new jobs in Enterprise Ireland supported firms and 52% of new jobs in IDA supported firms were outside Dublin.
The key strength of the stakeholders like the local authorities, the educational bodies, the enterprise development agencies and the private sector all working collaboratively to maximise opportunities, means that every county will benefit under this initiative.
Tipperary is covered by both the South East Action Plan for Jobs and the Mid-West Action Plan for Jobs.
I am committed to working with the various agencies and stakeholders in the South East and Mid-West, through the Regional APJ Implementation Committees, to ensure that the positive employment trends we saw across all regions in 2016 continue and that more jobs are ultimately created.
Tipperary is home to 12 existing IDA Ireland clients who between them employ almost 3,370 people.
In 2016, Enterprise Ireland supported 120 companies in Tipperary employing 5,352 people, a net gain of 290 on 2015.
Client companies supported by the Tipperary Local Enterprise Office created 436 gross new jobs in 2016. Total employment among LEO Tipperary clients was 1,437 at the end of last year.
My Department is providing additional funds through the agencies out to 2020. Together with Enterprise Ireland, I am currently finalising plans for a regional initiative of up to €60m to support collaborative approaches to grow and sustain jobs across the regions, and to encourage each county to reach its full potential.
I met the five Tipperary TDs earlier this week and discussed the closure of the Coty factory in Nenagh with them.
The existing Inter Agency Group in Tipperary charged with coordinating the provision of State services for redundant workers will extend its scope to deal with the Coty closure.
The Group will also help drive job creation by the development Agencies, particularly IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
I have arranged to meet the Chairman and members of the Group next week and I have invited the Tipperary TDs to the meeting also.
