Barry Cowen
Ceist:37. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the action he will take to boost the traditional manufacturing sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9079/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIndustrial Development
Ceisteanna (37, 51)
Barry Cowen
Ceist:51. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures he will put in place to help the traditional manufacturing sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9093/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 51 together.
Employment in the manufacturing sector suffered a major shock between 2008 and 2010 when approximately 50,000 jobs were lost in the sector. However, numbers have stabilised over the last two years. Some 205,700 people are now directly employed in manufacturing, full-time and part-time, and a similar number of people are employed indirectly. There was a 2.8% increase in manufacturing output in 2012 over 2011. It is noteworthy that exports of manufactured goods are continuing to rise despite challenges in many of our key markets. Final 2012 export data published by the Central Statistics Office last week showed that goods exports increased by 1% over 2011, reaching a total of €92 billion, which was the highest figure since 2002.
To promote job opportunities in this sector, the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 included several specific initiatives to develop the sector. Further measures to drive and develop manufacturing will be contained in the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, which I recently finalised on behalf of the Government and will be published in the coming days.
The Manufacturing Development Forum, which I established last year, has provided valuable insights. I have asked Forfás to develop a new Strategy for Manufacturing up to 2020 and this study is being finalised. A new report on the skills needs of the sector, which is also being finalised at present, will be a key driver in pursing those specific needs.
While manufacturing has been an important sector in Ireland since the 1960s, there has been a noticeable decline in numbers employed in the sector. This is not necessarily surprising, as it echoes what has been happening in most developed economies. A similar trend has been experienced in other industrialised countries such as Germany, the UK, the US, Netherlands and Korea.
Arising from greater globalisation, reduction of tariff barriers and the ease of transporting goods, it is clear that the nature of industry and the location of specialisations will be change. There will be an inevitable movement of production of lower cost, less specialised goods towards cheaper labour economies, e.g. in Asia. This is part of a wider global pattern. Despite the considerable challenges in an internationally competitive environment, there is considerable potential for the manufacturing sector in Ireland, as we are strongly placed to create opportunities and employment in many higher-value subsectors, for example chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and food, among others.
Unemployment Levels
Ceisteanna (38, 39, 43)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:38. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the next action plan for jobs will contain specific measures that take account of regional disparity in unemployment rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9088/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Dara Calleary
Ceist:39. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the next action plan on jobs will include specific regional measures in view of the geographical disparity in unemployment rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9073/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Seamus Kirk
Ceist:43. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the next action plan on jobs will place a particular emphasis on targeting unemployment black spots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9102/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 39 and 43 together.
The Action Plan for Jobs is a national plan aimed at providing a supporting operating environment for businesses to start up and expand. The Action Plan does not include specific regional sub-plans. However, many of the actions which will be contained in the 2013 Plan will have a positive impact at regional and local level. For example, the restructuring of the CEBs and the establishment of the Local Enterprise Offices will provide an enhanced level of supports for business start-ups throughout the country, while the continued roll-out of the new INTREO employment services by the Department of Social Protection will offer practical, tailored employment services and supports for jobseekers and employers alike.
IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland will continue to support job creation projects throughout the country and in all regions. In 2012, IDA Ireland client companies created a total of 12,722 new jobs, with net job creation of 6,570, representing the highest level of growth in a decade. The agency attracted 145 individual investments, with 66 of those from companies coming to Ireland for the first time. Apart from companies locating in Dublin, investments were also announced for a number of regional locations including Letterkenny, Sligo, Mayo, Westport, Galway, Louth, Dundalk, Drogheda, Kildare, Leixlip, Kilkenny, Bray, Cork and Limerick. IDA Ireland has also made a further 12 announcements so far in 2013. Seven of these announcements relate to investments in Cork, Dundalk, Waterford and Limerick and are expected to create over 637 jobs in those locations. Enterprise Ireland client companies increased their employment by over 3,300 in 2012. Meanwhile, commitments to new jobs in the future by Enterprise Ireland clients amounted to over 7,000, exceeding the target of 6,250 for the year. These included two separate announcements by Eishtec which are expected to create 500 jobs in total in Waterford and Wexford, and a major investment by the Kerry Group in Kildare which will create up to 900 jobs.
Job Creation Data
Ceisteanna (40)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:40. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total number of new Enterprise Ireland and Industrial Development Agency Ireland jobs announced for each of the past five years; the number of these jobs that were filled; and the number left unfilled. [9045/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Forfás Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the enterprise development agencies but does not collect data relating to unfilled posts. The number of job announcements together with associated potential job numbers in IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland’s client companies in each of the past five years are set out in the tables, as are details of the actual number of jobs created in client companies of each of the Agencies. However, there is usually a time lag of up to three years between the announcement of a job and that job coming on stream. It should be noted that some investment and job creation projects are not announced, for example, in cases where the company does not wish for publicity.
Table showing number of EI and IDA Job Announcements and associated jobs from 2008 to 2012
|
Year |
No. of EI Announcements |
EI Jobs Announced |
No. of IDA Announcements |
IDA Jobs Announced |
|
2008 |
7 |
1,522 |
51 |
5,406 |
|
2009 |
9 |
1,696 |
47 |
2,926 |
|
2010 |
10 |
1,723 |
78 |
6,000 |
|
2011 |
10 |
2,638 |
79 |
5,575 |
|
2012 |
14 |
3,891 |
88 |
7,384 |
Table showing the number of new jobs actually created in EI and IDA client companies from 2008 to 2012
|
Year |
EI Jobs created |
IDA Jobs created |
|
2008 |
13,191 |
9,252 |
|
2009 |
8,888 |
5,247 |
|
2010 |
10,987 |
9,990 |
|
2011 |
14,023 |
12,009 |
|
2012 |
12,861 |
12,722 |