Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which he expects to maximise the opportunities for job creation through initiatives, innovation and technology throughout the employment spectrum in the manufacturing and service sectors, with particular reference to the need to achieve a balanced economy with economic dependency spread evenly across the lower, middle and upper income scales, thereby ensuring the highest possible degree of competitiveness in home and overseas markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11571/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Jobs, which was published by the Government on 13th February last, is intended to maximise opportunities for job creation across the economy and will support the creation of 100,000 net new jobs to 2016. Of the net 100,000 jobs to be created, 20,000 are projected to be generated directly in manufacturing, while 30,000 will be created in international traded services. An additional 50,000 jobs will be generated indirectly through spin-offs and support activities.

The Action Plan outlines a number of measures and initiatives to enhance the operating environment for enterprise in Ireland and these measures will benefit all sectors of the economy, whether exporting or trading locally. Among the actions outlined in the Plan which will facilitate the transformation of enterprise and improve competitiveness are measures to:

· support and promote investment in research, development and innovation

· improve cost competitiveness

· align skills with enterprise needs

· prioritise infrastructure investment to underpin employment growth, and

· reduce costs through sensible regulation

The Action Plan also sets out specific measures to support the development of a number of key sectors where Ireland can competitive advantage, including in manufacturing and services sectors. This approach will ensure we achieve balanced economic development across a range of sectors.

Recognising the importance of manufacturing, the Government will target a number of specific actions in support of the sector in 2012. These include the establishment of a Manufacturing Development Forum to assist in identifying the needs of manufacturing enterprises and to progress the on-going transformation agenda required in this sector, aimed at deepening technology and growing productivity. We will also develop a long term vision for the manufacturing sector and put in place a strategic plan that will help to realise this vision. Similarly, the Action Plan contains a range of initiatives aimed at developing services sectors, including ICT, International Financial Services and Business Process Outsourcing.