Representatives of Business, Enterprise & Innovation Committee to hold meeting in South-East to discuss Action Plan for Jobs

Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Butler has said that the engagement in Waterford City will help shine a spotlight on the stubborn levels of unemployment in the South East region.

Deputy Butler was commenting after she announced the engagement which will take place in the Waterford City and County Council chamber on Tuesday, 14th November to discuss the South East Action Plan for Jobs.

“As Chair of the Committee, I am anxious that the challenges of doing business outside of Dublin and the need to support investment in the regions are given the attention they deserve. The Committee plans that this engagement will be the first in a series of meetings we will hold in different regions.”

“The South East, according to the Quarter 2, 2017 Quarterly National Household Survey, has an unemployment rate of 8.1% compared to the national average of 6.4%, and I am leading Committee Members to Waterford in order to hear from local people and business leaders on how they think this issue of stubborn unemployment can be addressed.”

“An unemployment rate that is a full 33% higher than the national average is not acceptable and Committee Members are keen to hear directly from those stakeholders who are working on the ground to foster employment and innovation in the South East.”

“All Members of the Oireachtas from the South East have been have been informed about the engagement and are very welcome to take part in it. It is vitally important that we work together to deliver for the regions of Ireland, and the Committee believes that this meeting can play an important role in achieving success for our communities,” concluded Butler.