Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First of all, 134,000 people came off the live register last year. There is always a very significant movement of people into work and out of work. The Action Plan for Jobs is driven by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and is monitored by both that Department and the Department of the Taoiseach. Representatives from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation are required to attend at Cabinet sub-committee meetings on a regular basis to ensure that the targets that have been set are achieved. The evidence we have is that there has been an increase in employment in most areas around the country. We hope to have full employment by 2018; that means a return to 2.1 million people working. Over the years almost 300,000 young people have emigrated, but I hope that by the end of 2016 we have net immigration of Irish people back into the country. In other words, by the end of 2016 there will be more young people returning to Ireland than leaving.

The Action Plan for Jobs sets out more than 380 actions for 2015. A number of those are very specific. They are what we call disruptive reforms; in other words, they really shake things up. One is the national talent drive, which aims to attract and retain world-class talent, ensure that work pays for all and provide a great place to live and work. We are targeting 13,800 graduates in the science, technology, engineering and maths disciplines by 2018; that will be an increase from 10,200 in 2011.

Then there is the delivery of regional potential, including the launch of competitive funding initiatives of up to €25 million to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the regions. The Europe Energy Innovation Hub, which was driven by Deputy Pat Rabbitte when he was Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, provides a one-stop shop to attract mobile investment and position Ireland at the forefront of innovation. One can argue the figures depending on which base one is using, but the clear evidence from the live register is that 135,000 moved off it last year and there is evidence that 80,000 net jobs have been created by the present Government over the last number of years. The Government target this year is the creation of 40,000 new jobs, which will hopefully go a long way towards surpassing its target of creating 100,000 net new jobs by 2016.