Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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23. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 815 of 7 march 2017, her views on whether her Department's focus on regions rather than individual counties might mean that some counties get neglected in favour of their more developed or profitable neighbours; the initiatives she has planned to combat economic stagnation and underinvestment in County Wexford specifically; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14427/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Regional Action Plans for Jobs are aimed at maximising the strengths and assets of each region, to support enterprise growth and job creation.

I am satisfied that the key strength of the stakeholders like the local authorities, the educational bodies, the enterprise development agencies and the private sector all working collaboratively to maximise opportunities, means that every county will benefit under this initiative.

Wexford has recorded significant improvements with the CSO’s monthly Live Register figures showing that the numbers on the Register in County Wexford have fallen by almost 1,800 in the past year, from 14,300 in February 2016.

Furthermore, the unemployment rate in the South East has fallen to 9.4% from a peak of 20.1% in 2012. Numbers unemployed in the region have fallen by 23,500 over this period.

Wexford is home to 17 existing IDA Ireland clients who between them employ almost 2,630 people.

Waters Corporation recently opened a new site expansion at their facility in Wexford. The expansion will allow for significant increases in operations, services and development functions onsite.

Enterprise Ireland companies currently support 4,816 jobs in Wexford. 

Total employment among LEO Wexford clients was 1,192 at the end of last year.

215,000 people are now at work in the South East. This represents a net increase of almost 13,000 jobs in the region since Q1 2015.

My Department is providing additional funds through the agencies out to 2020. Together with Enterprise Ireland, I am currently finalising plans for a regional initiative of up to €60m to support collaborative approaches to grow and sustain jobs across the regions, and to encourage each county to reach its full potential.