Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 April 2019
134. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the status of the 200 jobs announced for Athlone by a company (details supplied) in July 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17955/19]
View answerSince becoming Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have made regional development my top priority. Indeed, enterprise development and job creation in the regions of Ireland is a key policy priority of this Government.
We want to have a situation where all regions are enabled to realise their potential as contributors to economic development, and thereby reduce regional disparities. The Government welcomes all new job announcements by businesses, and the announcement by Mr Price to create 200 jobs in Athlone in July of last year is very good news for Athlone and the Midlands. I look forward to the impact these jobs will have in the Midlands region.
My Department remains committed to achieving an overall jobs uplift of between 10 and 15 per cent in each region by 2020 and to bring and/or maintain unemployment levels in each region to within at least one percentage point of the State average.
The most recent CSO Labour Force Survey employment figures (Q4 2018) for the Midlands continue to show very good progress in employment levels. From Q1 2015 (baseline year) to Q4 2018, a total of 20,000 more people are in employment in the Midlands, and unemployment has more than halved in over the same period from 14.9 percent to 6.6 percent.
It is also important to note that as well as meeting the numerical targets, it is also about creating jobs that are of good quality and sustainable over the longer term.
To that end, on the 6th of February last in Mountmellick, I launched a new Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020 for the Midlands, one of nine new Regional Enterprise Plans that build on the progress achieved under the previous Regional Action Plan for Jobs 2015-2017.
The Midlands Plan is focused around seven Strategic Objectives as follows:
1. Ensure that the Midlands is well positioned to address the challenges posed by the transition to a low carbon economy and renewable energy
2. Leverage opportunities in big data and data analytics from ILOFAR
3. Position and support the growth of the Midlands as an advanced manufacturing centre of excellence
4. Enhance the collective offering of the Midlands as a place to live, work and invest in
5. Strengthen the attractiveness of the Midlands as a destination to visit
6. Harness the potential of the food and beverage industry in the Midlands
7. Ensure the availability of skills and talent to realise the Midlands’ economic potential and address upskilling requirements
I'm pleased to report that the Midlands Regional Enterprise Plan Steering Committee has begun the process to drive delivery of the actions within the new Plan.
