Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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278. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of job creation project submissions in counties Westmeath and Longford, respectively, made to date as part of the midlands regional enterprise strategy; the number of these that are or will be actively supported and how; the category of projects submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2806/15]

Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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279. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has set specific job creation targets in counties Westmeath and Longford, respectively, as part of the midlands regional enterprise strategy; if so, if he will outline those targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2807/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 279 together.

The objective of the Regional Enterprise Strategies, which will be developed for all regions of the country on a phased basis, is to build on the strengths and opportunities of each region in order to support entrepreneurship, enterprise growth and job creation.

Achieving this objective can best be achieved through better co-ordination and collaboration by all stakeholders operating within each region, including the enterprise agencies, Local Authorities, education and skills providers, other public bodies, and enterprise itself.

The first Regional Enterprise Strategy to be published will cover the Midlands region. Over the past number of months, officials from Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and my Department have been involved in a series of engagements with the main stakeholder groups in the Midlands to discuss the strengths and opportunities that can be built upon to support enterprise and jobs growth in that region.

As part of the consultation process, a major stakeholder Forum was held in Athlone on 19 December last. The aim of the Forum was to identify practical actions that could be taken by the public sector or the business sector to progress the key issues which were identified by stakeholders as important to support job creation in the Midlands. Feedback from the Forum was captured in a structured way and participants were also invited to submit any additional ideas or proposals to a dedicated mail box in my Department - .

All proposals received, either through the Stakeholder Forum, or in subsequent submissions, are being examined by my officials who are currently finalising the preparation of the Regional Enterprise Strategy for the Midlands. The process is concentrated on identifying practical actions that can be taken in the short-to-medium term, and broadly within existing resources, to improve the operating environment for businesses.

Last week, the Government set out its ambition to achieve full employment by 2018. Achieving this objective will be supported by each region realising its economic potential. In a similar fashion to the annual Action Plan for Jobs the Regional Enterprise Strategies will identify measures that can be taken to enable the region as a whole to realise its economic potential and create jobs, building on its existing competitive strengths.