Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 February 2012
16 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way he intends to ensure that resources will be targeted to major and ongoing regional disparities in job creation. [11328/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraJob creation is at the top of the Government's agenda. Since we came into office, we have been working hard to create the improved economic conditions which will support the maintenance of existing jobs and the creation of new ones. The Action Plan for Jobs, which I launched on 13 February, outlines the Government's plan to rebuild the economy and create jobs. The plan will improve access to finance for small businesses, reduce costs and red tape, and improve supports for exports, management and innovation.
The achievement of balanced regional growth is a core objective of Government. Promoting entrepreneurship and facilitating the key infrastructural needs of Irish enterprise across all regions is vital to ensuring a vigorous pipeline of new business leaders, new business ideas and entrepreneurial activity. Cooperation across many organisations operating in the region is vital in developing a competitive edge and successfully supporting enterprise in the region. The development of sectors of opportunity and the fostering of clusters can play an important role.
This objective is consistent with the EU Commission's Regional Aid Guidelines, which govern the areas in which the enterprise and industrial development agencies in Member States may grant regional aid, more commonly known as investment aid. Investment aid is intended to promote the economic development of certain disadvantaged areas within the European Union in order to redress regional disparities. The Guidelines specify rules for the selection of regions that are eligible for regional aid and define the maximum permitted levels of this aid. Under Ireland's current Regional Aid Map, regions covering 50% of the population are entitled to Regional Aid grants. The details of the support in terms of aid intensity for each county are available on my Departments website.
The national Enterprise Development agencies under the aegis of my Department operate through a regional structure with a mandate to maximise regional opportunities. The IDA in particular has a target that 50% of delivering 50% of investments outside of Dublin and Cork. The County Enterprise Boards have been an important element in local enterprise development and in the Action Plan for Jobs we envisage better integration between Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Support and the activity of local authorities supporting business development.
I am confident that the measures outlined in the Action Plan for Jobs, together with the policies and initiatives being pursued by the Industrial Development agencies and the County and City Enterprise Boards, will create the employment opportunities necessary for national recovery.
