Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation having regard to the various job creation initiatives put in place in the past two years, if particular areas of job creation have indicated specific or greater potential; the extent, if any, to which any such appraisal can lead to a future of selection of schemes most likely to maximise job creation and alleviation of the numbers on the live register over the shortest possible period; the extent, if any, to which such plan or plans will be coordinated by his Department with a view to the maximisation of job opportunities, temporary or permanent with the objective of progress towards economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51815/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In drafting the Action Plan for Jobs on behalf of the Government, one of my key priorities was to identify sectors where Ireland has particular strengths that offer potential for job creation. Departments and agencies were tasked with developing actions to realise significant job growth in these target sectors. Details of the actions for delivery are set out in Chapter 7 of the Action Plan for Jobs 2012.

Within my own Department’s remit, for example, IDA Ireland has targeted sectors such as Financial Services, Life Sciences, ICT, and Content and Business Services for specific support. Enterprise Ireland is developing opportunities for business in Manufacturing, Agri-food, Life Sciences, ICT, Business Process Outsourcing and the Green Economy.

In addition, Forfás has been conducting an evaluation of all enterprise agency programmes delivered by the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, the County and City Enterprise Boards and programmes delivered by Science Foundation Ireland that involve direct collaboration with firms. The purpose of these evaluations is to assess the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of the agencies’ programmes. The evaluations will help to identify those schemes most likely to impact positively on enterprise growth and job creation.

In the context of the Action Plan for Jobs 2013, we will continue to target and support growth in those areas of the economy that hold most potential for job creation in the short, medium and long term.