Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

12. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the timelines and targets in relation to rolling out his Department’s regional enterprise strategy for the midlands region in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48116/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government recognises the need to place a greater emphasis on supporting enterprise growth and job creation at regional level. Employment has increased in all regions - and nationally by 80,000 - since the start of the Action Plan for Jobs process in 2012.

Employment in the Midlands region increased by 8,000 since the start of 2012 and the unemployment rate for the Midlands region has decreased from 18.7% to 14.5%.

The 2014 Action Plan for Jobs contained a number of commitments to support competitive regions, including, within my own Department, developing a framework for new Regional Enterprise Strategies. This framework will provide a model for co-ordinated action across public bodies and other stakeholders to support enterprise development and jobs growth, based on the strengths and assets of each region.

Consultation with regional stakeholders is an essential part of developing the Regional Enterprise Strategies. Over the past number of months, officials from Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and my Department have been involved in a series of engagements with stakeholder groups in the Midlands to discuss the strengths and opportunities that can be built upon to support enterprise and jobs growth. This consultation process will continue with a Regional Enterprise Forum in Athlone on the 19th December.

Following on from this consultation process, I expect to publish the Regional Enterprise Strategy for the Midlands in early 2015. The Strategy will include specific actions and targets on the part of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices, and other public bodies active in the region, to promote enterprise growth and job creation. The Regional Enterprise Strategies will need to be dynamic and flexible and capable of capturing any new ideas or opportunities that emerge over their life span.

Similar strategies for the other regions will be developed over the course of next year, on a phased basis.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

13. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the launch of distinct employment strategies for the regions as envisaged in the action plan for jobs. [48148/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am encouraged by the level of interest the House is showing in the delivery of the new Regional Enterprise Strategies which my Department is leading on. As I have mentioned previously, the Government recognises the need to put a greater emphasis on supporting enterprise growth and job creation at regional level.

While employment has increased nationally by approximately 80,000 since the start of the Action Plan for Jobs process in 2012 regions of the country which have faced difficulty in recent years are now showing strong employment growth – with the Border, West, Mid West, South West and South East showing the strongest jobs results in the past quarter. The pace of progress in the regions – and especially those with the highest unemployment levels - needs to be accelerated through targeted supports for enterprise growth and job creation.

Vibrant and competitive regions are important, not just from an economic perspective, but also from a societal point of view. Growing the economic base of regions will support social cohesion and provide opportunities for young people, in particular, to continue to live and work in their local communities.

My Department has developed a framework for Regional Enterprise Strategies which will be applied to produce action-oriented plans to support enterprise growth and jobs in the regions, commencing with the Midlands in the New Year, followed by the South East region. Similar strategies for the other regions will be developed over the course of the year, on a phased basis.

Developing the jobs potential of the regions can best be achieved through better coordination and collaboration by all stakeholders operating within the region, including the enterprise agencies, other public bodies, education and skills providers, and enterprise itself. Consultation with regional stakeholders is a fundamental part of developing the Regional Enterprise Strategies.

My officials have also been working closely with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to ensure that the Regional Enterprise Strategies will dove-tail with, and contribute to, the Local Economic and Community Plans to be developed over the coming year by the Local Authorities, and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies to be prepared by the Regional Assemblies.

The aim of the Action Plan for Jobs is to help enterprises to create employment in all regions of the country. If we are to do this successfully, it is important that each region builds on its particular strengths and assets to provide an environment that stimulates entrepreneurship and attracts both indigenous and foreign investment. The 2015 Action Plan for Jobs, which I am currently finalising on behalf of the Government, will build on the work we have commenced in 2014 and place a strong emphasis on enterprise and jobs at regional level.

Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

14. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the stakeholders who have been involved in the consultative process to date for the regional enterprise strategy for the midlands region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48117/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As I have outlined previously, the new Regional Enterprise Strategies which my Department is leading on will be underpinned by consultation with the key stakeholders in each region. These stakeholders include public sector bodies, business people, industry representatives, educational institutions and other parties who have a role to play in the economic development of the regions.

Over the past number of months, officials from my Department, along with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland have been involved in a series of engagements with stakeholder groups in the Midlands region.

“Brainstorming” sessions have been held with three groups of stakeholders to identify initial areas of opportunity for enterprise growth and job creation. These consultations involved:

-a Public Agencies group,

-an Industry group, and

-a Skills/HR group.

The Public Sector Group included representatives from Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the Regional Assembly, Local Enterprise Offices, Local Authorities and Athlone Institute of Technology.

A number of key IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland client companies operating in the region were invited to participate on the Industry Group.

The Skills/HR Group comprised representatives from a number of IDA and EI client companies, Athlone Institute of Technology, the National University of Ireland Maynooth, and the Education and Training Boards from within the region.

My Department and the enterprise agencies also attended an event organised by the Midlands Gateway Chamber in Glasson, Athlone, on 20^thNovember.

The consultation process will continue with a Midlands Regional Enterprise Forum in Athlone on the 19^thDecember, which will bring together a wider range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Retail Sector, LEO clients, community-based enterprises, Commercial State Bodies and Failte Ireland, to discuss the strengths and opportunities that can be built upon to support enterprise and jobs growth in the region. Members of the Oireachtas representing the Midlands region have also been invited to the event.

The consultation process will inform the Regional Enterprise Strategy for the Midlands which will be published early in the New Year.