Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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102. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department is identifying unemployment black spots in order that investment may be targeted towards those areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44000/14]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I wish to ask the Minister whether the Department carries out an analysis to establish the location of blackspots around the country in order to focus on the creation of employment in such areas.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Unemployment is a very important factor in all of our work. The economic crash saw a rise in unemployment in every region, and my Department and agencies have sought to respond to the employment challenge in every region. Since the launch of the Action Plan for Jobs, approximately 70,000 extra people have got work. Enterprises in every region have increased employment and in almost all sectors.

The highest rate of unemployment has consistently been recorded in the south east and my Department has put a special spotlight on the region. Agencies under my Department give higher levels of aid in regions with lower average income and higher unemployment. Under our Presidency of the EU, we negotiated a revised map for regional aid which allowed Kerry, Kells, Athy and Arklow to be brought in within the framework in view of their high levels of unemployment. The capacity to draw a regional aid map is very severely constrained by the rules of the EU. It is not open to a Minister to pick a town here and a town there. They must be contiguous regions based on the so-called nomenclature of units for territorial statistics, NUTS III, designation of regions or areas contiguous to them.

The creation of the LEO network is designed to provide a first-stop-shop for start-ups and existing enterprises that are in a position to create jobs. It also seeks to harness the influence and reach of local authorities in delivering a better service to businesses. New initiatives driven through this network include microfinance and the roll out of Ireland’s best young entrepreneur competition with a team of investment funds designed to find and support the best young entrepreneurs.

IDA Ireland has identified regions that require the additional support of property-based solutions. We put three in place this year in Waterford, Athlone and Letterkenny. We are seeking to develop a new regional enterprise strategy.

Unemployment is at the core of what we are seeking to address. Every region has seen a reduction in unemployment. Even small areas have seen a reduction in unemployment. We continue to employ such an approach and through the measures I described in my previous reply to the Deputy, we seek to improve the way we use the assets we have to support enterprise in those regions.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I will address my comments to the Minister of State, Deputy English in particular. In many areas of the country, young unemployed people aged between 18 and 20 years are not in a FÁS scheme. Will the Minister consider a different approach? Anyone who is unemployed should be given a place on a scheme until he or she gets a job. Will the Minister consider this as a means of helping to build up the self-confidence of those who are unemployed? It is a matter of getting up and out in the morning and working with people. This would be for the betterment of the country.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, by means of the Youth Guarantee, has introduced a range of measures to support young people getting back into the workforce. I refer to very successful schemes such as JobBridge, which has a 60% placement rate. MOMENTUM is under review and it is envisaged it will provide work experience as part of the scheme. The JobsPlus scheme is aimed at young people in unemployment blackspots to give them a leg-up. The back-to-work enterprise allowance is available regardless of age. I refer to a range of initiatives from Springboard right through to training. The Minister of State, Deputy English, has responsibility for the new apprenticeship and traineeship models. Significant work is being done in this area.