Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2017
301. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she is working to attract jobs and SMEs in the north west, thereby encouraging an overall balanced economy with consequent economic benefits for Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14529/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Regional Action Plans for Jobs are aimed at maximising the strengths and assets of each region, to support enterprise growth and job creation.
The key strength of the stakeholders like the local authorities, the educational bodies, the enterprise development agencies and the private sector all working collaboratively to maximise opportunities, means that every county will benefit under this initiative.
The North East/North West Regional Action Plan for Jobs is stimulating job creation across the region, by facilitating collaborative initiatives between the public and private sector, and through the provision of new competitive funds awarded through Enterprise Ireland, to support regional enterprise projects.
The North East/North West Plan aims to support the creation of 28,000 jobs across Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, and Louth by 2020.
Sectors targeted as part of the plan include traditionally strong sectors for the region like agrifood, manufacturing/engineering and tourism, including active promotion of the tourism potential of the Lakelands Region, which includes Cavan and Monaghan.
There has been a substantial improvement in the North East/North West region since the commencement of the National Action Plan for Jobs in 2012, with an additional 23,000 in employment in Q4 2016 compared to Q1 2012. Moreover, there are now almost 6,800 more people in work in the region since the launch of the Regional Action Plan initiative in Q1 2015.
The unemployment rate in the region has fallen from 10.2% in Q1 2015 to 8.0% at present, compared to the national rate of 6%.
IDA, Enterprise Ireland (EI), and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are making a significant contribution to employment in the three North West counties.
The three North West counties are home to 39 existing IDA Ireland clients who between them employ 5,742 people in a range of manufacturing and service operations. Since end-2014, IDA supported companies have seen a net increase of 505 jobs in the North West.
EI companies currently support 6,049 jobs in the North West counties. EI job announcements in 2016 in the North West included LotusWorks (50 jobs in Sligo) and VistaMed (200 jobs in Leitrim).
The North West LEOs are fully engaged in supporting the micro-enterprise and small business sectors in their areas to create and sustain jobs. The three LEOs have supported gross job gains of 1,281 in its client companies in the past 2 years.
My Department is providing additional funds through the agencies out to 2020. Together with Enterprise Ireland, I am currently finalising plans for a regional initiative of up to €60m to support collaborative approaches to grow and sustain jobs across the regions, and to encourage each county to reach its full potential.
