Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been working on the preparation of an Action Plan for Jobs for the Midlands region as part of the drive to increase the level of job creation across the country. Eight regional Action Plans will be delivered this year, building on the success of the national Action Plan for Jobs process which has contributed to the creation of over 100,000 new jobs since 2012.

Significant progress has been made in preparing the Action Plan for the Midlands, in consultation with key stakeholders in the region. My officials are currently finalising the Midlands Plan and I anticipate that it will be launched in the coming weeks.

The Government has also announced that it will provide up to €250 million in funding over the next five years to support the Action Plans for Jobs: Regionalinitiative. This funding includes €150 million for an IDA property investment programme in the regions, and up to €100 million which will be administered by Enterprise Ireland under three separate competitive funds for new and collaborative ideas to support job creation at regional level.

Last month, I announced details of the first two of the funds to be administered by Enterprise Ireland. These include a €5 million fund covering the period 2015-2017, open to groups of Local Enterprise Offices who come together to bid for funding for projects to support job-creation initiatives in their areas.

The second is a €5 million Community Enterprise Initiatives fund, open to groups and organisations in every region of the country who collaborate on new ideas and projects to support job creation. The closing date for applications for this fund is 10^thJuly 2015. Full details of the Community Enterprise Initiatives fund are available from Enterprise Ireland’s website, , or from Enterprise Ireland’s regional offices.