The Government today published its plans for 20,000 additional jobs in the manufacturing sector by 2016.
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton and the Education Minister Ruairi Quinn,published strategies prepared as part of the Action Plan for Jobs.
Last year Minister Bruton tasked a group led by industry experts with coming up with a plan to deliver on the Government’s target of 20,000 additional jobs in the sector. The strategies launched today, prepared by Forfás and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, are aimed at delivering on that ambition.
Key actions are proposed across a range of areas, including; access to new funding, management training and support, costs reduction and technology adoption. Among the specific measures proposed are:
· A new Start-up Fund run by Enterprise Ireland specifically targeting supports for new manufacturing start-ups; · Enterprise Ireland to introduce a new Capability Fund to support capital investment by manufacturing companies; · EI and IDA to target additional financial supports for R&D investment specifically targeted at engineering firms; · A new National Step Change Initiative available to all EI and IDA client companies that will systematically support manufacturing companies to o expand their client base through staff training and Peer Learning, o improve their adoption of new technologies and embrace R&D, o accelerate collaboration between companies in similar sectors to generate greater efficiencies in areas like global sourcing, · Proposals to maintain or reduce costs to manufacturing companies across areas like energy, waste, regulation, tax etc. · Better targeting of training at skills shortages in the manufacturing sector through the implementation of the Manufacturing Skills study.
The Ministers made the announcement today at Prodieco, an Irish manufacturing company established in 1962 which in recent years adapted to changing trends and now exclusively supplies packaging to the pharmaceutical industry, employing 130 people. Minister Bruton said:
The industry-led forum which we established to drive change in this sector has made real progress, and the strategy laid out today by Forfás shows that our Action Plan for Jobs target of 20,000 additional jobs in the sector by 2016 is achievable with the right supports from Government.
Here in Prodieco we can see at first hand what is possible in this sector for companies who show willingness to change and pursue new opportunities for growth. I am determined to ensure that we implement change, support more companies to change and pursue new growth markets, and create the jobs we need.
Minister Quinn said:
It is clear from the report we are publishing today that manufacturing remains a key employer in this country – but the needs of this sector like a lot of other sectors are evolving rapidly. In order to maximise opportunities for growth and attracting investment, we need to ensure our people are offered opportunities to upskill and reskill in order to have the relevant, quality skills needed to avail of current and future job opportunities in this sector.
Martin D. Shanahan, Chief Executive, Forfás commented:
Today, the manufacturing sector in Ireland employs 205,700 people directly, and as many people again indirectly. We need a continued and concerted effort to address the barriers to growth in manufacturing. The employment outlook for the sector depends critically on addressing domestic competitiveness factors and a favourable international trading environment. A further improvement in our cost competitiveness is required to assist the manufacturing sector to grow. Access to finance for Irish firms is continuously highlighted to us by companies as the number one issue.
Read the full press release here.