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

I wish to clarify that the strategy runs to 2016 and the plan is to create 20,000 jobs in the sector over the term of this Government. We have already achieved more than 13,000 direct jobs in manufacturing. This figure does not account for the associated indirect jobs. The plan is to create the extra 7,000 jobs over the next 12 to 18 months to reach that target. This sector can deliver a lot more. Deputy Flanagan mentioned 2020. There is no doubt about it but part of my work includes working in the research and innovation sector. We are dealing with our research ecosystem. Over the lifetime of this Government, we have the prioritisation agenda with regards to research funding. To be fair this was the case in the couple of previous years with other Governments. The sole development of this research ecosystem is leading to great opportunity in all sectors but especially the manufacturing sector. All the work that is going on in that sector, in particular the innovation end of it, will help with cost competitiveness. We need to ensure that our companies can compete on cost, which will help protect jobs.

With the development of new technologies and ideas, for example, metal 3D printing, there is great scope for creating new jobs and getting ahead of the market in some sectors. We are confident, but it is a question of focusing our agencies, which is what the Action Plan for Jobs will do. The manufacturing strategy tries to bring the agencies together.

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