Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2018
37. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of jobs created under the Action Plan for Rural Development by constituency in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19064/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan for Rural Development was launched in January 2017. The Plan contains 277 actions aimed at supporting the economic and social progress of rural Ireland. These actions are for delivery across Government, State agencies and other bodies, over the period 2017-2019.
One of the objectives of the Action Plan is to support enterprise growth and job creation in rural areas. The Government has set a target of supporting the creation of 135,000 extra jobs outside of Dublin by 2020. Specific measures to achieve this target are set out in the Action Plan.
The latest Labour Force Survey published by the Central Statistics Office shows that employment increased in almost all regions of the country year-on-year in Quarter 4 2017. Employment outside of the Dublin region increased by 56,200, or 84% of the overall national increase in 2017. The Labour Force Survey does not provide data at the level sought by the Deputy.
I can report that two-thirds of the 19,332 new jobs created by Enterprise Ireland companies in 2017 were outside of Dublin, while all regions saw an increase in employment in IDA client companies in 2017, with over 50% of the 19,851 new jobs created last year located outside of Dublin.
These figures show that the Government’s efforts to support job creation in the regions are working, but we must continue to build on the progress made to date and create more job opportunities for people who live in rural Ireland.
My own Department contributes directly to job creation in rural areas through programmes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Recreation Scheme and LEADER. LEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a budget of €250 million over the period to 2020 and has a job creation target of 3,100 over the lifetime of the programme.
