John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an area (details supplied) has been branded Dublin's worst unemployment blackspot after census figures revealed that 42.6 per cent of residents there are out of work; if he will detail the action open to him; if he will order the relevant State Agencies to pay particular attention to the area and create employment opportunities for those affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36888/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is tackling unemployment through the twin strategies of the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. The aim of the Action Plan for Jobs is to support the creation of 100,000 net new jobs by 2016, while the objective of Pathways to Work is to provide those who are unemployed with the appropriate training and skills to avail of the job opportunities which will arise as the economy recovers.

Both of these strategies are whole of Government, national strategies aimed at creating and sustaining jobs. The Enterprise Development agencies will be at the forefront of implementing the Action Plan for Jobs and will ensure that local enterprises can maximise their contribution to economic and jobs growth.

In 2011, Enterprise Ireland paid over €5.4 million in financial support to its client companies to assist them to develop their business and create employment in South County Dublin including Tallaght. The New Frontiers programme, which focuses on developing a person's entrepreneurial abilities and is co-ordinated by Enterprise Ireland, is providing €4.25 million in funding to enable the Institutes of Technology, including Tallaght IT, to deliver the programme at a local level. So far this year, 23 people participated in Phase 1 of New Frontiers at Tallaght IT and 15 applicants have recently been offered a place on Phase 2, which commenced yesterday, 18 July 2012.

A new Community Enterprise Centre Development Programme was launched this year for the maintenance or establishment of a strong business development function in the Community Enterprise Centres that are funded by Enterprise Ireland. Three Community Enterprise Centres in the Tallaght Area, including Partas, Killinarden Enterprise Centre, were successful in securing this funding in 2012.

The South Dublin County Enterprise Board provides support for small businesses with 10 employees or fewer in the start-up and expansion phases, to develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. In 2011, the Board paid out €357,682 in grant assistance to 38 microenterprise projects in the county. This year, the Board will continue to be actively involved in economic development in the area and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development.

Tallaght benefits from being part of Ireland's only Metro City Region and is well equipped to compete for potential foreign direct investment, with superb infrastructure facilities at City West and Grange Castle. Announcements in 2012 include Xilinx and SAP in Citywest, Microsoft in Grange Castle, and Digital Realty Trust in Profile Park, Dublin.

I am confident that the measures outlined in the Action Plan for Jobs, together with the initiatives being pursued by the State Agencies will ensure the creation of employment opportunities for the Killinarden area.