Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
1006. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the measures she is taking in conjunction with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to tackle high unemployment in Rowlagh and Cappaghmore in Clondalkin, Dublin 22 (details supplied). [32640/19]
View answerMy Department and its Agencies are committed to sustainable job creation in the Dublin region and throughout the country.
A total of 104,000 more people were in employment in the Dublin region in Q1 2019 compared to Q1 2015 when the Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative was launched by my Department. Unemployment in the region has reduced from 9.1 percent to 4.4 percent in the same period.
In February this year, I launched a new Dublin Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020, which builds on the very strong progress made on employment creation under the Dublin Regional Action Plan for Jobs. One of the Strategic Objectives set out in the Dublin Regional Enterprise Plan to 2020 is to seek to facilitate every individual to realise their full potential through engagement in economic activity. This Strategic Objective aims to increase the level of participation in the labour force from a variety of different cohorts by seeking to understand the barriers and impediments that they currently or have previously encountered. A working group has been established to drive the delivery of this Strategic Objective.
The Strategic Objectives and actions in the Dublin Plan are designed to complement the work being carried out by my Department’s Agencies to support job creation in the Dublin region, including Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices and the IDA.
Enterprise Ireland (EI) continues its strong focus on entrepreneurship and sustainable jobs growth in South Dublin County area, with a total of €19,975,064 paid in funding to EI client companies in the South Dublin County area between 2015-2018.
In February, EI client company Workhuman (formerly Globoforce) announced 150 new jobs and a major upgrade to their newly expanded HQ in Parkwest. EI client companies in the surrounding area also include KN Network Services, Aryzta Bakeries, Actavo, Irish Distillers, John Sisk & Son, Britvic Ireland, Diageo and Shamrock Foods.
In addition, EI has provided funding which has assisted in the development of shared office space in Bawnogue and Neilstown at ACE Enterprise Park. This provides a supportive working space for entrepreneurs and promotes and encourages an enterprise culture in the local Clondalkin community.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play a critical role throughout the country in supporting microenterprises in start-up and expansion phases. Dublin South LEO has provided total funding of €3,020,135 from 2014 to 2018 in the South Dublin area and created a total of 1,402 jobs over the same period, including 400 jobs in 2018.
IDA Ireland continues to promote all areas of Dublin City and the County to overseas investors. There are currently 763 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) companies operating in the County, employing over 96,760 people. From 2017 to 2018, FDI-driven employment in Dublin increased by 6.8%, with 6,231 new jobs added. Recent developments include the official opening of a new cutting-edge pharmaceutical manufacturing facility by Takeda Ireland at its site at Grange Castle on 5 July.
Meanwhile, I am informed by my colleague, Regina Doherty TD, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, that the measures her Department is taking to tackle unemployment are outlined in the Pathways to Work 2016 to 2020 strategy. This strategy identifies actions to be taken to improve employment outcomes for unemployed people.
Furthermore, the Intreo Centre in Clondalkin is the local one-stop shop for all income and employment support services provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP), and this is where customers from Rowlagh and Cappaghmore can access job-seeking advice, information on vacancies and income support services all in the one place.
The Intreo Centre also provides expert help and advice on employment, training and personal development opportunities, with a focus on customer needs to help them enter the workforce. These individualised supports are provided by Case Officers who are available to work with jobseekers and to assist them in getting back to work and increasing their employability.
