Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new jobs created by his Department as a result of the jobs initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37276/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new jobs created by his Department as a result of the action plan on jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37292/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of new jobs created by his Department as a result of Budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37308/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1027 to 1029, inclusive, together.

While neither my Department nor the agencies under its aegis including local authorities have a direct role in the creation of new jobs under the Action Plan for Jobs, it does have a key role in supporting and stimulating economic activity, and aims to safeguard and assist jobs growth, in particular within the context of a sustainable environment and the development of the Green Economy in Ireland. Furthermore the Rural Development Programme (LEADER) delivered under my Department, aims to improve the quality of life and support the diversification of economic activity in rural areas. The Rural Development Programme (RDP) supports a broad range of activities including support for the creation and development of micro-enterprises in rural areas. The RDP for Ireland 2007- 2013 has a substantial budget of almost €400m, which represents a significant lever to stimulate economic development in rural areas. Over the next 4 years, it is projected that the LEADER Programme will assist in the creation of up to 6,000 new jobs.

In addition my Department's Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), which commenced in January 2010, aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. The Programme is underpinned by four high level goals, one of which, while not directly creating new jobs, is aimed at increasing peoples’ work readiness and employment prospects. In this regard, the table below outlines the number of individuals supported into employment and into self-employment in 2011 and the target for 2012.

Local authorities also have an important role in providing much of the physical and regulatory infrastructure essential to support enterprise and promote employment. They deliver essential services to business and are geared to respond to the needs of local communities, employers and entrepreneurs speedily and efficiently. Local authorities are very active in promoting the commercial and enterprise interests of their areas, working with other State agencies and local business across all areas that can benefit their local communities and the enterprise sector. Local authorities are acutely aware of the need to assist in the response to the jobs crisis at the local level, and assist and network with other agencies in the delivery of their responses to the crisis at the local level. It is in that context that achievement of measures in the Action Plan for Jobs – 2012 will assist in creating a pro-enterprise supportive environment to generate new jobs and sustain existing ones.

My Department has no direct commitments in relation to the creation of new jobs in either the Jobs Initiative – May 2011 or Budget 2012. My Department’s commitments in the Action Plan for Jobs – 2012, in some instances in cooperation with other Departments, local authorities and agencies are in relation to Actions 1.17, 1.22, 1.23, 1.47, 6.5, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9 and 7.3.2. Progress to date has been reported in respect of Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 of 2012, but for the reasons set out above, numbers of jobs resulting have not been identified. I am advised that copies of the Action Plan for Jobs – 2012 and Progress Reports are available at www.djei.ie.