Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the job losses that have occurred in recent years; if he will put in place a plan dedicated to rejuvenate the labour intensive pub trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1957/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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2057As Minister for Jobs, enterprise and Innovation, I am acutely aware of the number of jobs lost in recent years and I fully appreciate the impact of these job losses, not just on the employees concerned and their families, but also on the wider community. Therefore, job creation is at the top of the Government's agenda. Since coming into office, we have been working hard to create the improved economic conditions which will support the maintenance of existing jobs and the creation of new ones. The Governments objective is to put the country back on the road to economic recovery and full employment.

The Jobs Initiative, announced on 10 May 2011, concentrated on the measures that offered the greatest potential for expansion and employment creation in the domestic economy. The Initiative had a significant focus on tourism and the reduction in the VAT Rate has helped provide an important stimulus to the sector generally. This has undoubtedly benefited the wider tourism industry including the hospitality and drinks sector to which the Deputy refers.

Work is also continuing on the Government's Action Plan for Jobs which will set out a series of clear, actionable measures to support the creation and retention of jobs. The Strategy will focus on areas such as:

- improving competitiveness and intensifying competition in sheltered sectors;

- assisting indigenous business to grow;

- supporting indigenous start-ups;

- attracting inward entrepreneurial start-ups;

- developing and deepening the impact of Foreign Direct Investment;

- exploiting opportunities in new and emerging sectors; and

- supporting employment initiatives within the community.

I am confident that the measures outlined in the Action Plan for Jobs, together with the policies and initiatives being pursued by the Industrial Development agencies and the County and City Enterprise Boards, will create the employment opportunities necessary for national recovery.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding job creation in Dublin North Central in 2012 and the supports for small businesses. [1988/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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2057Job creation is at the top of the Government's agenda. Since coming into office, the Government have focused on improving economic conditions to support the maintenance of existing jobs and the creation of new ones. Our objective is to put the country back on the road to economic recovery and full employment.

The Jobs Initiative, announced on 10 May 2011, concentrated on the measures that offered the greatest potential for expansion and employment creation in the domestic economy. The Initiative had a significant focus on tourism and the reduction in the VAT Rate has helped provide an important stimulus to the sector generally.

Work is also continuing on the Government's Action Plan for Jobs which will set out a series of clear, actionable measures to support the creation and retention of jobs. The Strategy will focus on areas such as:

- improving competitiveness and intensifying competition in sheltered sectors;

- assisting indigenous business to grow;

- supporting indigenous start-ups;

- attracting inward entrepreneurial start-ups;

- developing and deepening the impact of Foreign Direct Investment;

- exploiting opportunities in new and emerging sectors; and

- supporting employment initiatives within the community.

The Enterprise Development agencies which fall within the remit of my Department, together with the County and City Enterprise Boards, have continued to provide a wide range of supports, both financial and non-financial to companies in Dublin City, which includes Dublin North Central, and the country generally.

Enterprise Ireland is actively promoting entrepreneurship in Dublin City and provides a range of enterprise programmes and other initiatives to ensure that emerging technologies and business ideas with export potential are supported to become a commercial reality. There are currently 1,049 Enterprise Ireland client companies in Dublin City, employing almost 27,000 people. In 2011, Enterprise Ireland paid out €21.5m in funding to client companies in Dublin City. IDA Ireland's strategy for Dublin is to: Progress the development of a knowledge economy in order that the region can compete both nationally and internationally for foreign direct investment and to work with the existing client base in Dublin to encourage them to expand and diversify into higher value added good and services;

In 2011, there were nearly 500 IDA client companies, employing almost 52,000 people located in the Dublin City area.

Throughout 2011, Dublin City Enterprise Board and Fingal County Enterprise Board continued to support enterprise development and job creation throughout the north side of Dublin, through the provision of both direct and indirect assistance and will continue to ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise these objectives in 2012. The latest figures available indicate that these two Boards support over 113 companies that employ almost 4,000 people. I am confident that the measures outlined in the Action Plan for Jobs, together with the policies and initiatives being pursued by the Industrial Development agencies and the County and City Enterprise Boards, will create the employment opportunities necessary for national recovery.

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the plans that are in place for the north east region to benefit from the 4% increase in Enterprise Ireland's capital budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2060/12]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the plans that are in place for County Meath to benefit from the 4% increase in Enterprise Ireland's capital budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2061/12]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the plans in place in respect of counties Sligo and Leitrim to benefit from the 4% increase in Enterprise Ireland's capital budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2295/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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1I propose to take Questions Nos. 213, 214 and 220 together.

Job creation is at the top of the Government's agenda. Since coming into office, the Government have focused on improving economic conditions to support the maintenance of existing jobs and the creation of new ones. Our objective is to put the country back on the road to economic recovery and full employment.

The Jobs Initiative, announced on 10 May 2011, focuses our limited resources on measures that offer the greatest potential for expansion and employment creation in the domestic economy. The Initiative had a significant focus on tourism and the reduction in the VAT Rate has helped provide an important stimulus to tourism generally.

Work is also continuing on the Government's Action Plan for Jobs which will set out a series of clear, actionable measures to support the creation and retention of jobs. The Strategy will focus on areas such as:

- improving competitiveness and intensifying competition in sheltered sectors;

- assisting indigenous business to grow;

- supporting indigenous start-ups;

- attracting inward entrepreneurial start-ups;

- developing and deepening the impact of Foreign Direct Investment;

- exploiting opportunities in new and emerging sectors; and

- supporting employment initiatives within the community.

The importance this government attaches to job creation and economic recovery is underpinned by the increase of 4%, at a time of declining resources, in the Capital Budget for Enterprise Ireland.

There are currently almost 400 Enterprise Ireland client companies in the north east region (counties Louth, Cavan and Monaghan) employing just over 13,000 people on a full time basis. In 2011, Enterprise Ireland paid out almost €6.8m in funding to clients in the region.

There are 172 Enterprise Ireland clients in Co Meath employing 4,329 people full-time. Companies received €5.8m in payments in 2011.

In Co Sligo there are 82 Enterprise Ireland clients employing 1,314 people full-time and companies received €1.03m in payments in 2011, while in Co Leitrim there are 44 client companies employing 539 people and funding in 2011 of more than €284,000.

Enterprise Ireland, along with the other development agencies under my remit, will continue to provide a wide range of supports, both financial and non-financial to companies in these counties. The increase in capital allocation across all counties will provide Enterprise Ireland with significant resources to further support the development of Irish enterprise, and will allow the agency to continue with current levels of spending on job creation measures.