Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs that will be created over the next two years as a result of the State's enterprise strategy which will see a total spend of €1 billion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35990/11]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs that will result from the State's enterprise strategy in view of the fact that the Department allocation for 2012 is a record high of €514 million, to be followed by €458 million in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35991/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 83 together.

The Government published its Infrastructural and Capital Investment 2012-16: Medium Term Exchequer Framework on the 10th of November last. The capital investment programme covers a broad range of critical areas including economic infrastructure, environmental infrastructure and social investment.

While acknowledging that over the medium-term, there will be a lower level of resources available for capital investment generally, I am delighted to say that supports to industry will be maintained at very significant levels. In total, €2.334 billion is provided for jobs, enterprise and innovation over the period from 2012 to 2016, with over €900 million also being invested by my colleagues in programmes related to tourism, agriculture, food and the marine, all of which deliver major economic and environmental benefits. This will be an increase in the annual allocation for enterprise support from €508 million in 2011 to its highest ever level of €514 million in 2012, reflecting the priority accorded to job creation by the Government.

In 2010, IDA Ireland clients created 10,897 new jobs while Enterprise Ireland clients created 8,193. Shannon Development clients created 362 while the 35 CEBs together created 5,901 when full and part-time jobs are included. It is vital that this level of job creation is maintained and enhanced in the years ahead and the capital allocation to my Department ensures that this will be the case. There will inevitably be some job losses also, however, improved competitiveness, a more benign trading environment and interventions by the enterprise agencies in support of existing jobs will ensure that losses will be minimised.

Under the new investment framework the funding of these key employment creating agencies will be protected or enhanced over the medium term. A number of new initiatives will also be funded including a Partial Loan Guarantee Scheme, Innovation Fund Ireland and there will be increased focus on accelerating High Potential Start-Ups. As a consequence I expect these enterprise-development Agencies to deliver on their ambitious jobs targets of over 110,000 gross new jobs over the five years of the programme to 2016 – or 22,000 per annum on average. Every new job is estimated to have a multiplier effect so the overall impact on job creation of these activities is estimated 220,000 gross new direct and indirect jobs.

Continued investments in research, technological development and innovation have been and will remain a pivotal element of our enterprise development offering to 2016. These investments underpin both the quantum and quality of employment in enterprise today and into the medium term. The environment for business and job growth is of course affected by international economic conditions and our own competitiveness. In recognition of this I am conducting a review of our policies and I plan to publish a Jobs Strategy early in the new year to ensure that policies are adopted which maximise job opportunities.