Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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42. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to create 135,000 jobs outside County Dublin by 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15834/16]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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This question comes from the commitment in the programme for Government to create 135,000 jobs outside County Dublin by 2020. I will await the Minister's reply.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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A Programme for a Partnership Government sets a target of creating an additional 200,000 jobs by 2020, of which 135,000 jobs are to be created outside Dublin. I am convinced that we can achieve these targets.

Since 2012, the unemployment rate reduced from 15.1% to 7.8% in May this year. We have 155,000 extra people at work since 2012 and employment is growing in every region. My focus is on ensuring we support new job creation in every region. The regional action plans for jobs are the mechanisms for delivery. Their objective is to increase employment by 10% to 15% in each region. Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the local enterprise offices are delivering on their elements of the action plans which are being driven by local implementation committees.

My Department is providing funding of up to €250 million to support the regional plans. A €150 million regional property programme is being delivered by IDA Ireland. On 1 June I announced an allocation of €5 million in competitive funding for 48 local and regional initiatives through Enterprise Ireland. Further competitive funding calls will be launched shortly to ensure we achieve the jobs targets.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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Is it intended that they will be full-time jobs and what sectors will be targeted? I routinely come across people who tell me they are still having difficulties in accessing credit. They are trying to keep businesses going, but nothing much has changed for them, particularly for small indigenous businesses and start-ups. I have not read in full the ESRI's report which deals with the living wage. When pressed, an official of the ESRI made the point that poverty levels were directly impacted on by people being at work as opposed to being on welfare payments. We all want to see this happening. The ability to access credit is still a major issue and a real impediment.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy asked about the types of job created. As a Minister and a mother, I want to ensure the jobs we deliver are sustainable. On all sides of the House there is an ambition to create more sustainable jobs outside the population centres. There is no single approach to this. It will require up to 40 or 50 separate actions involving IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the local enterprise offices, local government services and third level institutions, as well as improved access to credit for SMEs. However, it needs much more than funding; it also needs a persistent drive across the public service and the business community. I ask every Deputy to come on board and help us to make it happen.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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We will all come on board in trying to assist, but when constituents come to us and state they are having trouble in maintaining people in employment because of the difficulty in accessing credit, it becomes an impediment. This is a particular aspect. We understand IDA Ireland has a particular role, while Enterprise Ireland has a different role. Obtaining seed capital for small new businesses can be a problem because there are rules.

Does the Minister have a figure in mind as to what constitutes full employment? During the Celtic tiger years we were told a 3% or 4% unemployment rate meant full employment. Does the Minister count being in part-time work in the same way as being in full-time work? Very often being in part-time work is not sufficient to sustain a family.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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What I define as full employment is everyone who wants a sustainable job being able to find one. It is my job to ensure this will happen in the coming years. The Deputy asked about part-time workers. I understand many women are in part-time employment and would like to work more hours. There are people who choose to engage in part-time work and I understand this.

We will try to ensure there is credit available. I am working to ensure money will be available through Microfinance Ireland and under the credit guarantee scheme. I wish to tell businesses that, through Microfinance Ireland, they can avail of loans ranging from €2,000 to €25,000. I strongly believe this information is not known and that SMEs do not know this. I ask Deputies to do something to help to ensure SMEs know that credit is available.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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The Minister has stated funding of up to €250 million is available. As I hate the phrase "up to", what is the figure? Is it €250 million? Will all of it be spent? I am sure the Minister will say, "Yes," but will she tell us how it will be spent? "Up to €250 million" could mean €5, €250 million or anywhere in between.

A bugbear of mine, about which the Minister will hear repeatedly, concerns IDA Ireland and site visits. In a previous life I had personal experience of having to intervene to ensure Amneal located in Cashel because I was not satisfied with how the site issue was being dealt with. Why have only three advance sites been identified with regard to the €150 million to be used? How long will it take us to use the rest of the money? What are the timelines in which it will be used? Will the Minister break down for 2014, 2015 and the first six months of 2016 the number of approaches IDA Ireland has made throughout the country in the purchase of sites for companies that wish to locate in Ireland? Obviously, we do not want sensitive data on the locations.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy asked about the amount of up to €250 million. I will ensure we spend €249 million or €249.99 million. I will certainly not send back any money. Anyone who knows me knows that I am able to live within budget, but I will ensure it is ringfenced to create jobs.

The Deputy also asked about why there were not more IDA Ireland site visits. The money has come onstream and three advance facilities have been built. There are plans to build three more. I will try to ensure there are more and that we hurry up the entire process. Sometimes there are difficulties in planning, but we must ensure we drive through and get it done.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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If the Minister digs deep, she will find out that is not true.

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Will the Deputy repeat what he said?