North West / North East Action Plan for jobs being launched today

Enterprise Minister Bruton will today launch the Regional Jobs Plan for the North West and North East, with the aim of creating 28,000 new jobs in the region.
There are over 150 elements to the plan, which covers the area from Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Monaghan, Cavan and Louth.
The targets include an increase of at least 25% in the number of start-ups in the region, and a 25% improvement in the survival rate of new businesses. The plan also envisages a 30 to 40% increase in the number of IDA investments in the region, resulting in a minimum of 61 additional projects.
A key target will be securing “second site” investments from companies who already have large scale existing operations in Dublin.
Up to 500 new jobs will be created in the gaeltacht with support from Udaras na Gaeltachta, and two Regional Skills Forums will be created, along with a Regional Innovation Forum.
Initiatives are planned in the food and tourism sectors, as well as a possible Renewable Energy Innovation Centre at Killybegs.
The plan also envisages a rewnewed focus on Cross-border initiatives.
 
Minister’s statement in full –
Since the national Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012 more
than 20,000 extra people are at work in the North East/North West (12%
growth). During the years 2008-2011, 31,600 jobs were lost in the region.
The plan launched today targets employment growth of 10-15% over and above
today’s employment levels.
The North East/North West Plan covers counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim,
Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. Key sectors targeted as part of the plan include
traditionally strong sectors for the region like agri-food,
manufacturing/engineering and tourism, as well as areas targeted for future
growth like digital payments, cleantech and creative services. Among the
152 actions in the plan to be delivered over the period 2015-2017 include:
·    Achieve an increase of at least 25% in the number of start-ups in the
region, and a 25% improvement in the survival rate of new businesses.
·    Increase the number of IDA investments in the region by 30-40% up to
2019. This will result in a minimum of 61 additional projects for the
North East/North West region by 2019. As part of this, IDA is
delivering a range of property solutions including advance facilities
in Letterkenny, Sligo and Dundalk.
·    IDA will develop a value proposition for the North East/ North West
aimed at securing potential “second site” investments from companies
with large scale existing operations in Dublin.
·    The Local Enterprise Offices will disburse over €2.2million in grant
funding, and provide training and mentoring support to over 1500
business-people per year
·    Create 300-500 extra jobs in Gaeltacht regions, supported by Udarás
·    Establish two Regional Skills Forums to ensure the flow of critical
skills to enterprises in the region
·    A Regional Innovation Forum for the North East/North West region to
help support more companies to innovate and engage in R&D
·    Manufacturing sector – new training programmes in precision
engineering toolmaking; new Enterprise Ireland initiatives to support
manufacturing companies to scale and export; pursue the establishment
a Centre of Excellence for Toolmaking and Design
·    Food sector – new regional food innovation programmes, increase in
number of participants on Food Academy Programme, extra food hubs in
the region building on the successful projects already in place
·    Tourism sector – a new Shannon-Erne Blueway, further development of
initiatives around the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East
·    Cleantech – explore the potential for a Renewable Energy Innovation
Centre at Killybegs
·    Digital Payments – IDA and Enterprise Ireland to work with industry
to progress a Digital Payments Cluster along the M1 corridor
·    Cross-border initiatives – develop new cross-border initiatives,
including initiatives to increase drawdown of research and innovation
funding`(targeted €16millon to benefit 1400 businesses), greater use
of the border as an opportunity for companies to gain their first
foothold in export markets.
·    Implementation – a comprehensive implementation structure is being
established to ensure delivery of the plan
The levels of employment growth actually achieved within that range will
depend on factors including the level of support and collaboration within
the local community for the Plan, and the level of collaboration between
organisations in the region and the main Government bodies involved in the
plan. Minister Bruton believes that based on all the evidence and the
strong buy-in for the process up to this point it is realistic to target
28,000 additional jobs in the region by 2020.
Minister Bruton said: “Jobs are growing right across the country, but they
are growing faster in some regions than in others. That is why we have put
in place the €250million regional jobs strategy, to support regions to play
to their strengths and accelerate jobs growth in every area.
“The North East/North West is a region which had historic problems with
unemployment, but over recent years thanks to the ingenuity of its workers
and businesses it has performed extremely strongly. Since we launched the
national Action Plan for Jobs in early 2012 over 20,000 extra people are at
work in the region, making it the third fastest growing region in the
country in employment terms. Jobs are growing particularly rapidly in
exporting companies supported by my Department. However we can do more, and
that is why we are putting in place this highly ambitious plan to
dramatically accelerate job-creation in the region.
“I am convinced that with the right support from Government through the
North East/North West Plan, and by continuing the collaborative approach
right across the region, we can deliver 28,000 extra jobs over the coming
years. This would be 28,000 extra pay packets coming into communities and
25,000 lives back on track – a goal well worth fighting for”.
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Cavan/Monaghan TD Heather
Humphreys said: “Since the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in 2012,
unemployment levels in Cavan and Monaghan have dropped by about 30%. This
new, targeted regional Action Plan will help to further drive job creation
across the border region with a focus on boosting start-ups, increasing the
level of IDA investment and providing better supports for local businesses.
This plan will help to ensure that the economic recovery is felt right
across this region as more and more people get back to work.”
Minister of State for Business and Employment and Louth/East Meath TD Ged
Nash said: “There is no doubt that this region suffered badly in the
economic crash, with unemployment rising to 16.6%.  However, due to the
strength of this region’s enterprise base and the hard work of its people,
it has delivered one of the strongest performances in the country in terms
of jobs growth, with employment rising by 12% since the Government’s Action
Plan for Jobs initiative was launched in 2012.”
“Now we need to build on the recovery and this turnaround in economic
fortunes to ensure there is further jobs growth and opportunities.  I am
particularly pleased to see the Digital Payments Cluster along the M1
Corridor included in this Action Plan, building on the success of companies
such as PayPal, eBay, State Street, Vesta and Yapstone already established
to act as a magnet to other indigenous and FDI companies in this sector.”