As you know, since coming to Office, the Government’s number-one priority has been to get Ireland working.
We are not happy that unemployment remains far too high.
At every opportunity we have been working, at home and in Europe, to progress more pro-growth and investment plans.
As is often the case with such crucial matters, much of this work goes on quietly but intensively behind the scenes.
In our first 100 days, we launched our Jobs Initiative.
This cut tax on labour-intensive services, introduced new internship and training schemes.
Budget 2012 saw a series of new measures to promote jobs and investment.
Because in the current circumstances many of our workers are put to the pin of their collar to make ends meet we did not increase income tax.
We reassured those men and women in jobs and looking for jobs that there is always a financial incentive in doing a day’s work.
In Budget 2012 we published our €17 billion capital plan, based on what the country could afford.
This was a sizeable investment by the State in new infrastructure in keeping with our current economic circumstances.
At that time I said the Government would develop further capital projects as part of our NewERA plan.
In this way vital new infrastructure could remain off the Government’s balance sheet.
Since that time the focus of Europe has now more fully realigned itself to the priorities of Ireland, that of growth and jobs.
It has been the position of Ireland at European Council meetings that parallel pro-growth and pro-job strategies are needed in conjunction with responsible fiscal consolidation efforts.
The months since have been tense and at times frustrating
But it is clear that Europe has now come round more to Ireland’s way of thinking, making its priorities growth and jobs.
Equally, there is wide recognition that Europe needs to move as quickly as possible beyond the fire-fighting phase of the eurozone debt crisis and put its urgent attention to policies to grow the European economy and create jobs so that the people on whom our Union is based, can raise their families with the necessary confidence, prosperity and hope.
In response the European Council has agreed to bolster the capital resources of the European Investment Bank to provide new infrastructure financing in the regions that need it most.
In pushing the jobs and growth agenda here at home, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Finance have been working hard exploring new opportunities to finance new building works.
Less than a fortnight ago, I met with the President of the European Investment Bank, Mr. Werner Hoyer, to discuss mutual opportunities for the EIB and Ireland if the institution continued its strong support for Irish infrastructural projects.
Government and Ministers have been preparing projects with the aim of having them ready for quick progression as funding opportunities arise.
It was clear that the traditional model of the PPP had to change to attract new sources of funding and the Government has been working hard on this funding issue in recent months.
In addition to new PPP funding, a significant proportion of the proceeds from the sale of State assets will also be made available to contribute towards the cost of new infrastructure.
As funds become available and PPPs contracts are agreed we’ll start a number of projects across vital areas such as education, healthcare, transport and justice.
In keeping with the Government’s commitment to education and our children, 12 additional or replacement schools will be built across the country.
The new DIT campus at Grangegorman is a further priority. The new LUAS BXD line will have a station there. In addition to providing new quality educational facilities for DIT it will also lead to the rejuvenation of an important inner city district.
To continue the crucial reform of the healthcare system, we’re planning to build 36 new, primary health-care centres distributed across Ireland.
These will provide excellent care in the heart of the community, making people using them more comfortable and taking pressure off our hospitals.
The Minister for Transport will be advancing new road PPPs to complete parts of the inter-urban network.
There’ll be new motorways along the N17/N18 to bypass Clarinbridge, Claregalway and Tuam.
The M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy, including a bypass of Enniscorthy, will also be included.
The Minister for Justice will advance plans to build new courthouses and to invest in the State Pathology Laboratory. Work on some Garda Divisional headquarters will also feature depending on need.
The next part of this process will be to raise further funding from the sale of State assets and to examine the capital investment plans of existing semi State companies to ensure appropriate investment.
In this context the Government will be introducing a wide set of reforms including putting the NewERA organisation on a statutory footing.
We’re acutely aware that while the people will welcome today’s projects for the jobs and better services they will create they know as we do that they won’t solve the jobs crisis.
Competitiveness of the Irish economy continues to be key.
We’re securing that, partly, by implementing the Action Plan for Jobs.
Improving our debt-suitability is critical and we will go on working in Europe to break the link between bank debt and sovereign debt.
Reforming our welfare, education and unemployment services is equally important. We must make sure that everyone has the chance to get out to work.
The success of our policies to date means that international confidence in Ireland is improving, our exports are growing, new foreign direct investment is coming in.
The next year will be a vital one in terms of Ireland’s journey of recovery.
Yes – it’s been tough and it will be tough.
With this announcement our national journey continues and improves.