Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he and or his Department has evaluated the prospects for job creation in this economy over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9442/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he foresees job creation prospects in this economy in both manufacturing and the service sectors in each of the next four years; if any specific issues have emerged which might be likely to impede progress in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9443/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.

Job creation is a key priority for the Government. The Action Plan for Jobs has set the objective of supporting the creation of 100,000 net new jobs in the economy by 2016 and making Ireland the best small country in which to do business.

In compiling the 2012 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. A number of individual sectors were targeted for attention in the 2012 Action Plan, including manufacturing and various services sectors.

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 supporting indigenous companies to develop opportunities in Manufacturing, Agri-food, Life Sciences, ICT, Business Process Outsourcing and the Green Economy, with a particular focus on export potential.

Some important work has also taken place by my Department and Forfas to develop a forward-looking strategy for the manufacturing sector.

The 2013 Action Plan for Jobs will build on the work carried out last year and will contain further measures to support growth in those areas of the economy that hold the greatest potential for job creation.