Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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88. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which any appraisal has been done to determine the extent to which infrastructure required in the context of job creation is deficient in various regions throughout the country; if any action plan is in place to address such infrastructural deficiencies thereby facilitating a balanced economic recovery countrywide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39638/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The availability of competitively priced world class infrastructure (energy, broadband telecoms, transport, waste and water) and related services is critical to support economic growth and job creation. While Ireland has made significant investment in infrastructure in the past, further investment and improvements are required to ensure that our infrastructure can support economic recovery and job creation. Therefore investing in infrastructure to underpin employment growth has been one of the key priorities of the Action Plan for Jobs since its inception in 2012.

In addition, my Department and its agencies are constantly engaged with relevant infrastructure stakeholders on the particular infrastructure needs required to support enterprise development and job creation. However, given the constraints on Government finances, capital investment in the short term must be highly targeted. In June 2014, Forfás made a submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s review of capital investment outlining the main capital priorities for the period to 2020 to support enterprise development and job creation.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has completed its review of the public capital programme, in parallel with the comprehensive review of expenditure. The Government's five year investment strategy will be published before the end of the year. It will focus on infrastructural investment consistent with the Government’s economic and social priorities including the investments that would best support economic recovery and social progress.

Successful enterprise development depends on a well-planned spatial environment, which efficiently delivers the appropriate supporting infrastructures to create competitive and attractive locations for foreign and indigenous business investment. Regions that support strong and dynamic enterprises are crucial to Ireland’s return to overall economic growth and another key priority in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 is the development of regional enterprise strategies. The objective of the regional enterprise strategies is to enhance synergies between the enterprise agencies and their client companies and build on the competitive strengths of the region to maximise the potential for job creation.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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89. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he expects innovation and technology to feature in job restoration at various economic black spots throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39639/14]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Investment in science, technology and innovation (STI) is an essential component of supporting an innovative and enterprising economy. It assists in creating and maintaining high-value jobs and attracts, develops and nurtures business, scientists and talented people, ensuring Ireland is connected and respected internationally. The importance of STI to Ireland’s on-going and future economic and social development and well-being is well recognised by the Government. Across the EU, Ireland is ranked third in the EU ‘Indicator of Innovation Output’ (September 2013), which measures the extent to which ideas from innovative sectors are able to reach the market, providing better jobs and making Europe more competitive.

IDA Ireland has a key role in seeking to win high-value R&D investments for Ireland, by promoting collaboration between industry, academia, government agencies and regulatory authorities. It also funds in-company R&D. Ireland’s strengthened national research ecosystem has enhanced IDA’s capacity to attract increased levels of high-value R&D projects which qualitatively transform and deepen the roots of key multinationals here. It is worth noting that every 10 jobs created in multinational companies leads to approximately 7 jobs being created elsewhere in the economy in supply and service business. IDA Ireland promotes a focused regional development strategy and under its Horizon 2020 strategy, it has set targets for investment in the regions.

In terms of the STI ecosystem, the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), our universities and Institutes of Technology, are located throughout the country and provide a focal point for research and innovation activities. Many of these host Science Foundation Ireland Research Centres and/or joint Enterprise Ireland – IDA Ireland Technology Centres, amongst other supporting initiatives such as Enterprise Ireland’s Technology Gateways and Campus Incubation Programme. The HEI’s also host Technology Transfer Offices, linking in to the central Technology Transfer Office, ‘Knowledge Transfer Ireland’, and are placing an emphasis on collaborations with industry partners in areas of strategic importance, both regionally and nationally.