Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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10. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his proposals for job creation throughout the regions, with particular reference to the need to achieve a reasonable balance in terms of economic investment, thereby contributing to a more co-ordinated, integrated and comprehensive development of job creation opportunities in the future; if any infrastructural deficiencies need to be addressed in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12089/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Employment has increased nationally by almost 90,000 since the start of the Action Plan process in 2012. All regions have experienced job growth but some regions less than others. That is why the Government is placing an increased emphasis on supporting jobs growth in the region.

The Government recently announced details of the Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative which will seek to build on the strengths and assets of each region to maximise enterprise growth and job creation. My objective is that six Regional Action Plans will be launched by July, with two remaining Strategies in development at that stage.

The objective of this new initiative is to strengthen and develop job creation in the regions by encouraging the enterprise development agencies, Local Authorities, regional bodies, higher education institutions, other public bodies, as well as the private sector and communities, to come forward with innovative ideas to boost job creation in their area.

While the Regional action plan process will not, in itself, address issues surrounding significant infrastructural deficits it will be of assistance in highlighting any such difficulties. Other Government strategies including Infrastructure and Capital Investment programme and the National Broadband Strategy will identify key infrastructural priorities to be addressed within the constraints of available resources.

The Regional Action Plans will provide up to €250 million over five years in additional funding to support regional enterprise development. This €150m IDA property programme will build on the recent investment by the IDA in a number of advance manufacturing facilities in regional locations. It should be noted that the Advance Facilities announced recently represent less than half of the total investment in property solutions as part of the new IDA Strategy. Significant resources will be invested in utility intensive strategic sites which have a track record of attracting FDI as well as a substantial upgrade of large sections of the existing Business Park network to ensure an attractive suite of investment location options are available to potential investors.

The Enterprise Ireland €100m will be distributed through three new competitive calls which will be announced by EI over the coming months. Funding will be allocated to the best ideas across the regions. Tangible jobs impact, enterprise start-up and scaling are amongst the criteria against which applications will be measured. Innovative collaborations among different regional agencies or stakeholders will also be favourably weighted.