Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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68. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the efforts she is making to bring more jobs to County Longford and the midlands in view of the recent closure of a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23015/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I recognise the impact that the recently announced closure by Longford Architectural Metalworks can have on a town like Longford and my thoughts are with the workers and their families affected by this announcement.

The Midlands Regional Action Plans for Jobs, which covers Longford, Laois, Westmeath and Offaly, is aimed at maximising the strengths and assets of the region, to support enterprise growth and job creation.

We are seeing good progress: 7,600 jobs have been created across these counties from the start of 2015 to end 2016. The region is well on the way to achieving the Plan’s target of an additional 14,200 jobs by 2020.

The unemployment rate in the region has fallen from 12.5% in early 2015 to 7.9.0% at end 2016. This is just over 1% higher than the then national rate of 6.7%, now at 6.2%.

In County Longford, live register numbers have fallen by over 34% over the past 4 years.

The Enterprise Agencies are working hard to drive job creation in Longford.

Enterprise Ireland companies currently support 2,800 jobs in Longford. 

Total employment among LEO Longford clients was 1,061 at the end of 2016 and Longford is home to 4 existing IDA Ireland clients who between them employ over 660 people.

Last June, I announced €5m in competitive funding for 48 local initiatives under two Regional Competitive Calls.  Eight projects in the Midlands were successful in securing funding: four of these are partnerships involving LEO Longford, aimed at benefitting and supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs.

My Department and Enterprise Ireland are now finalising plans for a further regional funding initiative of up to €60m to support collaborative approaches to grow jobs across the regions.