Midlands plan set to create 14,000 jobs

The jobs minister has insisted the Government will deliver 14,000 new jobs in the midlands over the next five years.

Richard Bruton was speaking at the launch of a major employment strategy that sets out ambitious targets which would help wipe out the job losses suffered in the recession.

However, he warned that the plan would need to deliver for the economy as a whole and the business sector in the region in particular.

“It’s an action plan and as long as it’s action and not just policy, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating,” said Tullamore Chamber president Joe Fennell.

The Midlands Action Plan for Jobs — the first of eight regional jobs plans to boost employment across the country — is part of a €250m strategy mainly targeting the manufacturing, tourism, food, and energy sectors.

The jobs target is aimed at reversing the 16% decline in employment (20,800 jobs) seen in Westmeath, Longford, Laois, and Offaly since the economy crashed. To date, 9,200 jobs have been restored and the new plan targets employment growth of 10%-15% by 2020.

The action plan is seeking to:

• Attract at least 25 additional multinational investment projects to the region by 2019;
• Build two advance facilities in Athlone;
• Appoint an IDA regional manager for the Midlands;
• Ensure key IDA personnel overseas have enhanced know-ledge and marketing plans for the region.

There will be supports to promote extra employment growth in the 1,052 existing exporting companies within the midlands region, most of which are SMEs.

A target of 25% more start-ups in the Midlands will be set, with extra funding, mentoring programmes, and new incubator spaces for entrepreneurs to be established.

In addition to these measures, a Midlands manufacturing technologies campus will be created; new cycling, walking, and other recreational trails along the waterways of the region will be made; a skills forum will be set up to connect education providers in the region with industry and employers; and a regional energy hub will be developed.

Mr Bruton acknowledged that while jobs were growing across the country, they were growing faster in some areas than in others.

“That is why we have put in place the €250m regional jobs strategy, to support regions to play to their strengths and accelerate jobs growth in every area,” he said.

“The Midlands has performed well in recent years, with over 9,000 extra jobs created, but it has had historic challenges, and that is why we decided that the midlands plan would be the first regional jobs plan published.

“I am convinced that with the right support from Government through the midlands plan, and by continuing the collaborative approach right across the midlands, we can deliver 14,000 extra jobs over the coming years.

“This would be 14,000 extra pay packets coming into communities and 14,000 lives back on track — a goal well worth fighting for.”

Launching the plan, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said all eight regional jobs plans which are due to be rolled out over the coming months are aimed at fulfilling a key priority for the Government: The creation of local jobs and securing local recovery.