Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the many positive initiatives in Action Plan for Jobs. The action plan for 2013 has delivered significantly and we clearly ought to build on its successes. I welcome the Minister's comments in regard to regional strategies. I come from a region that has suffered significant job losses over the past decade despite its location in the centre of Ireland and excellent access to broadband, public transport and building supply. I would like to see a focus on towns such as Ballinasloe in trying to attract some of the significant job announcements into the regions.

On the skill shortages, the Minister mentioned that many of our best and brightest are leaving, and many of them with some of the skills that we require at home. What contribution does the income tax system make to some of our brightest leaving the country? One hits the high tax rate at €32,500. Is that an issue? Is that driving some of the soundings we heard from Government recently that this an area that will be looked at in future budgets?

On competitiveness, it is encouraging that we have improved our world ranking, from 24th in 2011 to 17th in 2013. How will we be able to improve that competitiveness even further? We all realise how significant a cost is energy to SMEs. Are there are any opportunities in that area?

I agree with Deputy Lawlor that we need to communicate better what is available to employers. I wonder should a communication or flyer of some description be sent to every employer in the country, large and small. It would not cost a great deal. We all will be aware from our records of the businesses operating right throughout the country. I accept that online information is useful, but it appears that those in business do not realise the basic information that one would expect them to have. I have come across employers who do not know about the JobsPlus scheme and do not realise that an employer who takes on an extra person can get significant help towards employing him or her. We need to look at that.

I support the concept of teaching entrepreneurship in second-level schools. Recently, the Minister met a number of people from Ballinasloe who had an innovative idea of piloting a project and I hope that the Department might take that on board and see how it can be developed further.

On the staffing levels and resources of the LEOs, the city and county enterprise boards in some parts of the country have been poorly resourced. Will the resources be provided through the local authorities to the new LEOs, which will be significant one-stop-shops and, hopefully, deliver many new jobs in small start-up situations, and will we be able to move staff around so that those LEOs are adequately resourced?