Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2016
939. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts being made by her Department to prioritise the job creation needs in Tallaght, noticing the need to tackle the unemployment situation and to cater for the future generations of young persons who will qualify from the area's school and college system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26739/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe aim of the Government is to ensure that every region can achieve its economic potential and that the benefits of the recovery are felt in every region, county and community in the country.
Significant progress has been made in the Dublin region. Since the national Action Plan for Jobs was launched in 2012, more than 76,000 additional people are back at work in Dublin. This compares with job losses of 90,000 in the period 2008 – 2011.
The Action Plan for the Dublin region was launched last January. Successful implementation of the Dublin Plan will see the creation of 66,000 extra jobs in the Dublin region by 2020 and an unemployment level of 6 percent.
Key sectors targeted as part of the plan include areas like technology, financial services, life sciences, manufacturing, tourism and retail as well as “smart cities” and the creative industries.
The Dublin Action Plan is being monitored and driven by an Implementation Committees, comprising representatives from the Enterprise Sector, as well as the Local Authorities, Enterprise Agencies, and other public bodies in the region. Collaboration between the private and the public sector is central to its delivery.
I have met the Dublin Committee recently and was greatly encouraged by the progress already made in the implementation of the Plan. I expect to receive the Committee’s first progress report shortly and the report will be published in Q4 of this year.
Under the Dublin Action Plan, IDA Ireland has committed to delivering 430 additional investments in the years to 2019. IDA Ireland continues to market South County Dublin, including Tallaght and its environs, as a potential location for new foreign direct investment, in order to secure new investment and additional jobs for the region. South County Dublin is well equipped to compete with other areas for potential foreign direct investment, with good infrastructural facilities at Citywest and Grangecastle, and a third level Institute of Technology at Tallaght.
Enterprise Ireland supports job creation in South Dublin, which includes the Tallaght area, through a suite of actions and supports delivered directly and indirectly in collaboration with the many relevant partners in the region. The main focal point for this support in Tallaght is the Local Enterprise Office (LEO).
The LEO South Dublin provides a first stop shop in Tallaght for anyone thinking about self-employment and offers business advice clinics such as start your own business, mentoring, funding, etc. The Tallaght LEO also offers a signposting service for those seeking the support of other agencies such as Intreo, Revenue, County Partnership, County Council, Solas etc. Finally, the LEO also assists those seeking to access funds from Micro Finance Ireland
By supporting SMEs, continuing to attract FDI and providing assistance to start-ups to grow and develop, we will see our recovery take hold which will result in improved standards of living for the people of Dublin. In real terms, what we are aiming for with this project, and what ‘success’ will look like, is about providing more people, particularly young people, with the opportunity to stay, live, and work in the region.
