Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he has taken to ensure that all areas of the country enjoy a growth in employment; the success of his strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17308/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Jobs is the Government's key policy instrument to assist job creation. Its aim is to support enterprises to create employment throughout the whole of the country and in all regions. The 2014 Action Plan for Jobs, which was published at the end of February, recognises that regions that support strong and dynamic enterprises are crucial to Ireland's return to overall economic growth. The Action Plan includes a number of measures to be taken in 2014 to support competitive regions.

One of the mechanisms by which we will support enterprise development at regional level in 2014 is by building new property capacity in regional locations to help cater for FDI projects. In 2014, IDA Ireland will commence building new advanced manufacturing facilities in Waterford and Athlone, and office space in Letterkenny.

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Local Authorities will develop integrated local economic and community plans, to promote economic and community development in each local authority area.

The Action Plan also includes a commitment to develop a framework for a Regional Enterprise Strategy to better integrate the efforts of the enterprise development agencies and other regional stakeholders in supporting enterprises. My intention is that the framework will be developed on a pilot basis initially, focusing on the Midlands region, and involving the agencies under the remit of my own Department – Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the County and City Enterprise Boards (soon to become Local Enterprise Offices). The objective is to enhance synergies between the agencies and their client companies and build on the competitive strengths of the region to maximise the potential for job creation. The role which other public bodies in the region can play in working towards this objective will also be examined as the project develops.

The aim is that this framework will serve as a model for other regions of the country.

The latest Quarterly National Household Survey published by the Central Statistics Office shows that in Quarter 4 2013, there was an increase of 61,000 people in employment year-on-year, net of reductions in the public sector. The data also shows that there was an increase in employment in all regions of the country. Through the Action Plan for Jobs, we will aim, in 2014, to build on this progress.