Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his job creation target for 2011 and 2012, and over the Government's term of office. [14631/11]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he has examined the potential job creation targets throughout his Department with the objective of achieving a reduction in the numbers on the live register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14696/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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1I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 32 together.

Job creation is central to our economic recovery and the Programme for Government has job creation at its core. It is only by creating the right environment for businesses to expand that we will see new jobs coming on stream.

In this context, the objective of the Jobs Initiative announced on 10 May is to put policies in place to improve the business environment in Ireland, drive competitiveness, continue to grow our exports, and restore confidence in the economy, both internationally and domestically. The Jobs Initiative will support the maintenance of existing jobs, as well facilitating the creation of new ones. The Initiative includes a range of measures, which will be taken across all Government Departments – including my own – to stimulate the economy and help get people back to work.

The Programme for Government recognises that economic recovery must be export-led. Trading and Investing in a Smart Economy is an integrated strategy that is global in scope and covers both existing and new high growth potential markets. It has set a number of ambitious targets to be achieved by end 2015 i.e. to create 150,000 new jobs (manufacturing, tourism and traded services). The jobs total figure of 150,000 direct new jobs, is from agency estimates based on their growth targets over the Strategy period to the end of 2015 i.e. 75,000 (IDA Ireland), 60,000 (Enterprise Ireland) and 15,000 in the tourism sector. The strategy also foresees the creation of a similar number of new indirect jobs.

Enterprise Ireland will support the achievement of these job creation targets through a number of key interventions such as:

- support for start-ups, R&D and Innovation, and securing exports:

- supporting the establishment and growth of High Potential Start-Ups.

- supporting companies to target new opportunities in overseas markets

- continuing to be focused on supporting company investments

- continuing to invest in R&D both in terms of in-company investments, and by supporting the commercialisation of Ireland's research.

Just this week, I announced that Enterprise Ireland has invested in 80 new High Potential Start-Ups (HPSU), in 2010. These innovative young companies will create over 770 new jobs over the next three years, bringing their total employment to almost 1,300. Total sales over the same three year period are expected to reach €528 million, with exports accounting for over 80% of this figure.

In addition to its existing offer for Irish companies, Enterprise Ireland recently launched a new fund with the aim of assisting its client companies achieve enhanced growth through increased employment. The competitive Job Expansion Fund will provide grant support up to a maximum of €150,000 towards the recruitment of new employees, with the first call for applications closing on 30 June 2011.

FDI has been, and will continue to be, a key element in the export led recovery of the economy. IDA will focus on winning new investments in areas such as Global Services, High End Manufacturing and Research, Development and Innovation. IDA will also target new investments from sectors such as Life Sciences, Medical Devices, Information and Communications Technology, Financial Services, Content Industry, Consumer and Business Services, Diversified Industries and Engineering and Clean Technologies. Fifty per cent of these investments are to be based in locations outside of Dublin and Cork. A growing proportion of FDI will come from high-growth markets new to Ireland.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the job creation targets for the Industrial Development Agency for the period 2011 to 2014. [14625/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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2057In March 2010, IDA Ireland published 'Horizon 2020', its strategic blueprint for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Ireland in the coming decade. FDI has been, and will continue to be, a key element in the export led recovery of the economy.

'Horizon 2020' sets out a compelling argument for the need for ongoing 'transformation' in our approach to secure leading FDI here in Ireland. 'Horizon 2020' sets out a road-map of what is needed to fuel Ireland's future success with leading global corporations over the coming decade. The investment targets for this strategy include the creation of 62,000 direct new jobs with 105,000 total jobs impact in Ireland from the period 2010-2014 and 50% of these investments are to be based in locations outside of Dublin and Cork. Building on existing regional strengths to ensure Ireland's economic development and optimising regional spread, in line with the NSS Gateway and Hubs, of overseas investments is central to IDA's core activities.

The Strategy is being implemented over a five year period (2010-2014). IDA has made good progress since the strategy was launched in March 2010.

IDA Ireland's specific targets for job creation for the period 2010 to 2014 are as follows:

- 105,000 new jobs (of which 62,000 will be direct employment)

- 640 investments

- 50% of investments will be located outside Dublin and Cork

- 20% of greenfield investments originating from emerging markets by 2014

- Annual client spend of €1.7bn in Research, Development and Innovation by 2014

IDA will increase its focus on winning new investments in the following areas:

- Global Services

- High End Manufacturing

- Research, Development and Innovation

IDA will focus on winning new investments, particularly from the following sectors:

- Life Sciences

- Pharma and Biopharma

- Medical Devices

- Information and Communications Technology

- Financial Services

- Content Industry, Consumer and Business Services

- Diversified Industries and Engineering

- Clean Technologies

A growing proportion of FDI will come from high-growth markets new to Ireland and IDA will win investments from these markets. FDI will also come increasingly from early-stage companies, which IDA can help attract to Ireland in part because so many established leading multinationals are already here.