Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will report on his new targets for job creation under the new 2012 action plan for jobs; the measures that are in place to facilitate the hiring of workers off the live register when jobs vacancies arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11403/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Jobs has set a target of supporting the creation of 100,000 net new jobs over the period 2012 to 2016, with the longer term objective of having 2 million people at work by 2020.

Of the net 100,000 jobs to be created over the next five years, 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 for Jobs is part of a wider, whole of Government response to the jobs crisis, which includes also the recently published plan for labour market activation, Pathways to Work. Both documents are fundamentally linked and recognise the need to reform our policies and our structures to secure long-term and lasting results for our enterprise base and for job-seekers.

The Action Plan for Jobs includes a number of measures to support employers to recruit people from the Live Register when vacancies arise. These include simplification and extension of the Employer Job (PRSI) Incentive Scheme which exempts employers from liability to pay employer's PRSI for certain employees. This scheme will be extended to cover the first 18 months of employment while the eligibility criteria for job seekers will also be amended and improved. The Government will promote the increased take up of this scheme through business and employer representatives.

Similarly, the Government will target the increased take-up of Revenue's Job Assist scheme, which provides for a double wages deduction to employers who employ a person who has been unemployed for 12 months or more.

Under Pathways to Work, the public employment services will be reformed through the creation of the new National Employment and Entitlements Service, which will provide better targeted services to both job seekers and employers. The new service will include the provision of recruitment and job-matching services for employers, to facilitate the hiring of workers from the Live Register. A target has been set to increase the proportion of vacancies filled from the Live Register by the Department of Social Protection's employment services to 40% by 2015.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the pressing need for a jobs strategy for Bray, County Wicklow; if he is taking steps to ensure that this need is addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11402/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Job creation is at the top of the Government's agenda. Since we came 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. Our objective is to put the country back on the road to economic recovery and full employment. The Action Plan for Jobs, which I launched on 13 February, outlines the Government's plan to rebuild the economy and create jobs. The plan will improve access to finance for small businesses, reduce costs and red tape, and improve supports for exports, management and innovation.

Supporting new and existing indigenous businesses, across the country, to grow and export is central to our plans for recovery, growth and jobs and the Action Plan for Jobs contains a significant number of measures which are aimed specifically at the facilitation and incentivisation of growth among SMEs throughout the country. Among the measures announced are:

The introduction of a microfinance fund to provide loans of up to €25,000 to micro-enterprises in the Irish economy.

A drive to support 95 new High Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs) with a significant contribution to that number from ambitious international mobile entrepreneurs.

The reshaping of the micro-enterprise supports in Ireland to put in place an improved enterprise support structure for small businesses throughout Ireland.

The establishment of a potential exporter Division within Enterprise Ireland to stimulate greater activity within companies across all regions and to reorient those demonstrating real growth potential from the domestic to the international market place.The introduction of capital initiatives including the Development Capital Scheme and the Second Call of Innovation Fund Ireland.

Rolling out of a number of market initiatives, including Trade missions, an International Market Week, attracting 600 inward buyers to Ireland, driving the take up of the Going Global initiative, and working proactively with the Diaspora.

Establishment of a Senior Management team between EI and IDA to drive effective collaboration to deliver on key priorities such as procurement opportunities for SMEs and attracting inward start-ups.

It is important to clearly state that eligible companies have the same access to State services and supports, regardless of their location. Enterprise Ireland coordinates a range of supports delivered locally, including entrepreneurship programmes which are focused on identifying and assisting new business prospects across the country. Under the Regional Aid Guidelines, the Development agencies can support projects in less advantaged regions to a higher level of aid intensity, which can act as a significant incentive to the undertaking of projects which can aid job growth and expansion.

I am confident that the measures outlined in the Action Plan for Jobs, together with other policies and initiatives being pursued, will create the employment opportunities necessary for Bray and Co. Wicklow generally.