David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I warmly welcome the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, and I thank him for the work he is doing in respect of the south east. He chairs a forum which brings together many of the key stakeholders in the region with a view to creating jobs and promoting economic development. I am aware that there may be a very positive announcement in respect of Waterford tomorrow and I am sure the Minister will be present for that. I take this opportunity to welcome said announcement in advance. Any jobs which can be created in Waterford and the south east are welcome, particularly in light of the very high levels of unemployment which obtain there.

The Minister will be aware that the unemployment crisis in the south east must be managed and addressed. The rate of unemployment across the region is 19.1%, which is 25% above the national average. In Waterford city, the rate of unemployment stands at 25.1%. I am sure the Minister will agree that this is not just unacceptable but that it is dangerous to have a level of unemployment of that magnitude in a city, particularly one which is supposed to be a gateway city and the driver of economic development and activity in the south east.

What is required for the south east is a coherent long-term strategy that will align all of the relevant stakeholders and agencies. The key ingredient in this regard is the establishment of a technological university. I want there to be a university for the south east which contemplates the needs of the region. There is no point in creating a university just for the sake of doing so or in merely changing the name above the door. We need a university which is geared towards enterprise, which contemplates the needs of the region and which is for the people of the region. In the context of research and development, such a university must be capable of taking advantage of the region's key strengths.

Those strengths are health, life sciences and medical devices, financial and internationally traded services, tourism, arts and culture, agribusiness, food production and technology, engineering, telecommunications, software development and digital media, and the biotechnology and green economy sector. A strategy that aligns these sectors of potential growth for the south east is necessary. The crucial ingredient is the enterprise agencies. They must play a leading role. Their policies must be aligned with what the Minister is trying to do for the region.

We must join up national policy with local and regional policy and ensure those with responsibility for delivering economic development, and job creation specifically, deliver for the region in real terms. There may be a positive announcement tomorrow, but that will only be a small start to what is necessary for the region.

The region's educational attainment levels need to improve. This issue does not directly relate to the Minister's portfolio, but it is crucial to job creation. This is particularly the case of the linkages between secondary school and third and fourth levels. It is also a matter of fostering a culture of upskilling and training in businesses. The south east presents the potential for pilot projects in secondary schools, for example, fostering innovation, creativity, thinking outside the box and entrepreneurship. This approach will be key to the region's success. Long-term solutions are as important as short-term ones, but short-term interventions are required, for example, a university, the Rosslare bypass for Wexford, an expansion of Waterford Airport's runway and the use of NAMA assets for town and city centre regeneration projects. A great amount of work needs to be done.

I am seeking an update from the Minister on what progress has been made since he launched his Forfás plan, the initiatives in which he is involved and whether they have made a difference to Waterford and the south east.