Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The strategy for the manufacturing sector, which was commissioned and which was published in April 2013, identified that an additional 20,000 jobs could be created in the sector by 2016. A complementary report on the skills needs for the sector, which was commissioned at the same time, identified a series of actions to enhance skills in the sector.

Arising from the manufacturing strategy and the skills report, a range of initiatives are in hand by relevant agencies to achieve the 2016 target, with key actions from both reports having been incorporated into the Action Plans for Jobs for 2013, 2014 and 2015. Developing manufacturing was adopted as a disruptive reform and one of the key actions in it is the delivery of a national step change initiative to strengthen Ireland’s manufacturing base. In addition, a wide range of training and educational initiatives are underway by the relevant providers, such as Skillnets. A new key action which has been included in the 2015 action plan is a project to assess the business case for the possible establishment of an innovative manufacturing facility which would enhance Ireland’s manufacturing capability.

Both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are working with both existing and prospective new client companies in the manufacturing sector, with consequent job creation and retention. New opportunities are emerging in manufacturing as a consequence of technological change in 3D printing, robotics and additive manufacturing and also in the context of the development of smart products and the Internet of things. These opportunities are being addressed as part of the strategic plans of my agencies, Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Science Foundation Ireland. We were at a launch at the South East Applied Materials, SEAM, technology gateway in Waterford Institute of Technology last Thursday, where there has been an investment of more than €2 million in a metal 3D printer. This will allow for the manufacturing and development of 3D printing. The work and research that is going on is fascinating. Many engineering companies will be able to use this resource and will be able to work with our researchers to develop concepts, jobs and projects for the future. This shows great potential and hope.

The latest employment data for the sector from the CSO’s quarterly national household survey shows that direct employment in the manufacturing sector stood at 218,500 in December 2014. This is an increase of 12,800 from the level at the time the strategy was compiled, which represents a very heartening outcome to date. When account is taken of indirect employment, the sector therefore now supports a total of 437,000 jobs and the trend is quite positive.

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