Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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91. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which the protection of existing jobs and the creation of new jobs continues to be successful with particular reference to policy in this regard for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30605/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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95. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which he and his Department continue to monitor potential obstacles to job creation and-or retention here; if any particular initiatives are required to address specific issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30610/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 95 together.

When this Government came into office, it had inherited a situation where more than 250,000 private sector jobs had been lost in the previous three years. This was primarily the result of relying on economic growth fuelled by a construction sector bubble and unsustainable consumption. The Government set about transforming the economy on a number of fronts, including fixing the banking systems, reforming the public sector and embedding a jobs agenda right across Government through the Action Plan for Jobs process.

The aim of the Action Plan is to improve the operating environment for business and address key factors which can act as obstacles to job creation and retention. These factors include issues such as access to finance, administrative burdens on business, the need to improve company capability, and gaining access to new markets. The Action Plan for Jobs has delivered a range of initiatives to support job creation, develop sectors of potential and improve our competitiveness. We are also building a strong enterprise mix to ensure that Ireland is not overly reliant on a limited number of sectors for future growth.

While the task has been significant, we are making progress. We are climbing back up the international competitiveness rankings again and the latest CSO Quarterly National Household Survey showed that over 63,000 jobs have been created since the Action Plan for Jobs process was introduced at the start of 2012. In 2013, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland recorded the strongest employment growth in a decade amongst their client companies, while 2014 has shown a continued flow of new job announcements.

The Government will continue to work towards its target of having an extra 100,000 people at work by 2016 through the Action Plan for Jobs process, and work will commence shortly on preparing the Action Plan for 2015.