- Exports by Irish companies increased by 10% during 2014 to hit an all-time
- high of €18.6billion, the Government announced today (Thursday).
- Steady annual increase in exports from Irish companies from €13.9billion in
- 2010 as part of drive to create a powerful engine of Irish industry
- Announcement of Enterprise Ireland export results for 2014 comes as
- Government publishes Action Plan for Jobs 13th Progress Report
Growth was recorded in exports to all international markets and across all
sectors, according to the official figures published by Enterprise Ireland
today.
The announcement is being made as the Government publishes the 13th Action
Plan for Jobs Progress Report at an event at Enterprise Ireland HQ at East
Point, Dublin, today. The Progress Report, part of the monitoring process
put in place when the Action Plan for Jobs was first launched in February
2012, showed that 101 of the 113 measures scheduled for delivery during Q1
2015 have been delivered. Among the measures delivered include:
· Action Plan for Jobs Regional – secured €250million in additional
funding for regional jobs support and set out a framework for 8
regional jobs plans which will be finalised by mid year
· Started lending under the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland -
€400million in lending for SMEs made available through agreements
signed with AIB and Bank of Ireland
· Made improvements to Microfinance Ireland, in order to make it easier
for SMEs to access lending under this scheme
· Increased the number of places for young people on JobsPlus (cash
incentive for employers to recruit from the live register)
· Launched and commenced implementing a new IDA Ireland 5-year
strategy, aimed at creating 35,000 net new jobs
· Launched and commenced implementing a new strategy for the financial
services sector, aimed at creating 10,000 net new jobs
Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD said: "Action Plan for Jobs continues to be the
driving force behind our commitment to bring our country back to full
employment by creating a sustainable export-led economy. It has proven
itself effective in delivering our targets and our targets continue to be
ambitious. In the coming months, we will deliver one year early on our
target of adding 100,000 jobs. By next year, our plan will see more Irish
people returning to work in this country than leaving. By 2018, we will
have replaced every job lost by the previous Government with more,
sustainable jobs and by 2019 there will be more people working in this
country than ever before."
Tánaiste, Joan Burton TD said: "As part of the Action Plan, I expect that
the first referrals under JobPath, a new employment initiative by my
Department, will begin in July with a very ambitious target - to help
115,000 long-term unemployed jobseekers return to work. Two organisations -
Turas Nua and Seetec - will provide additional employment services to
augment – not replace – the Department's own employment services. Between
them, the two organisations will provide 1,000 additional staff in roughly
100 outlets across the country to assist the long-term unemployed in
finding suitable employment and training options. JobPath will help us
increase the momentum made to date as we aim for full employment by 2018."
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said: “At
the very heart of our jobs plan is creating a powerful engine of Irish
business, alongside the strong multinational sector we have built up.
Through the Action Plan for Jobs we have put in place a range of measures
to support the Irish businesses who can turn into the global success
stories of the future, and today’s announcement that Irish companies
delivered all-time record exports in 2014 is a huge boost. These exports
directly supported 8,500 extra jobs created in these companies last year.
This does not happen automatically, but if we implement the right policies
we can improve on this in future years as part of our drive towards
sustainable full employment by 2018”.
Minister of State for Business and Employment, Ged Nash TD said: “As the
economy continues to improve, we are also striving to improve the living
standards of all our people. No one wants to see a recovery characterised
by low pay.”
“To safeguard a recovery that is fair and benefits everyone, in the APJ I
am concentrating on ensuring that work always pays through the Low Pay
Commission and tackling precarious employment. We are also supporting
small and medium sized businesses by ensuring they can access the right
Government supports and the finance they need to succeed and grow.”
Minister of State for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English TD
said: "Skills and Innovation are critical to Ireland's success in overseas
markets and today's export figures from Enterprise Ireland demonstrate the
high return from our investment in these key areas, keeping Ireland strong
on international markets. This Government will continue to focus on
developing world-class talents through important initiatives such as the
ICT Action Plan and the new model of apprenticeship. I welcome the steady
jobs growth that all regions in the country are seeing showing that the
Action Plan for Jobs plan is working and will deliver on our commitment for
full employment by 2018. I would like to congratulate researchers and
industry in Ireland who have won over €97 million in competitive funding in
the first 9 months of 2014 from Horizon 2020, the nearly €80 billion EU
Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. I am confident that based
on the pipeline of activity we will surpass our APJ 2014 target of €100
million for the first year of the Programme. However, I would encourage
more industry, including innovative SMEs, to apply as there are many
close-to-market opportunities to exploit and Enterprise Ireland’s Horizon
2020 industry experts are available to advise and support industry on the
programme, its opportunities and how to apply."
CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Julie Sinnamon said: “Record exports of €18.6bn
were achieved by Irish exporters – representing an increase of almost 10%
over 2013 figures. Significantly, growth was recorded across all sectors
and in all international markets. These results are reflected in the record
jobs performance by Enterprise Ireland clients in 2014 where the agency’s
clients recorded the highest net job gains in the history of the agency and
further validate Enterprise Ireland’s investment in indigenous industry”.
Action Plan for Jobs 2015 - First Progress Report (PDF, 1MB)
Ends
For further information:
Press Office, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 01- 6312200 or
press.office@djei.ie
Government Press Office 01 619 4051/ 087 253 1675
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Enterprise Ireland export results
Exports now account for 51% of total sales by companies supported by
Enterprise Ireland, compared with 42% in 2004.
Total exports by Enterprise Ireland clients have increased steadily from
€8.5billion in 2004 to €18.6billion in 2014. We are on course to hit target
of €22billion in 2016.
Greatest wins came from the Software sector with exports up by 19%,
followed by the Construction and Life Sciences manufacturing sectors*.
Demand for Irish exports showed greatest growth in the Latin America and
Asia Pacific regions - up 42% and 25% respectively – while demand for Irish
goods in the UK grew by 9% to a record €6.8bn.
Annual Business Review (ABR): breakdown by sector and geographical market
Sectors of | | | |
significant growth * | | | |
| | | |
---------------------+-------------+--------------+----------+----------
Sector |Exports |Exports |% Change |
| | |2013/2014 |
| | | |
|2013 €m |2014 €m | |
| | |€m |
---------------------+-------------+--------------+----------+----------
Software & Public |€1,093 |€1,305 |€212 |+19%
Procurement | | | |
---------------------+-------------+--------------+----------+----------
Construction & |€2,063 |€2,349 |€286 |+14%
Consumer | | | |
---------------------+-------------+--------------+----------+----------
Life Sciences, |€2,714 |€3,007 |€293 |+11%
Engineering, Paper | | | |
Print & Packaging, | | | |
Electronics & | | | |
Cleantech | | | |
Geographical markets | | |
showing significant growth| | |
in demand for Irish | | |
exports | | |
--------------------------+---------------+---------------+--------------
Region |2013 |2014 |% Change
| | |
| | |
|(€m) |(€m) |2013/2014
--------------------------+---------------+---------------+--------------
Latin America | 159 | 224 |42%
--------------------------+---------------+---------------+--------------
USA/Canada |2,017 |2,339 |16%
--------------------------+---------------+---------------+--------------
Asia Pacific |1,121 | 1,406 |25%
--------------------------+---------------+---------------+--------------
UK |6,269 |6,815 |9%
2. Action Plan for Jobs 13th progress report
This is the 13th report from the Monitoring Committee established by
Government to monitor and drive implementation of the measures contained in
the Action Plan for Jobs. It outlines progress made on measures due for
completion in the first quarter of 2015. The Monitoring Committee comprises
representatives of the Department of the Taoiseach, the Office of the
Tánaiste, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and the
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The high-level goal of the
Action Plan for Jobs, first introduced in 2012, is to create the
environment where the number of people at work will have increased by
100,000 by 2016 (from 2012 base). It also contributes to the medium-term
goal of having 2.1 million people in employment by 2018.
The Government published the fourth in its multi-annual Action Plan for
Jobs series in January this year. This Plan, which contains 382 actions to
be implemented in 2015 by all 16 Government Departments and by 46 agencies
under the remit of these Departments, will build on the progress made since
2012 to improve supports for job-creating businesses and remove the
barriers to employment creation across the economy. These actions are
additional to the over 900 actions already implemented under Action Plan
for Jobs 2012, 2013 and 2014 cumulatively, and reported on by the
Monitoring Committee in its previous quarterly reports (see
www.actionplanforjobs.ie).
The latest official statistics on employment and unemployment in Ireland
(from CSO QNHS Quarter 4 2014) show that total employment increased by
29,100 in 2014 bringing total employment to 1.938 million (seasonally
adjusted 1.927 million). There was an increase in full time employment of
39,600 in the year and a decrease in part-time employment of 10,500. This
points to a significant strengthening of the labour market and increased
confidence on the part of employers in their recruitment. Over the period
since the launch of the Action Plan for Jobs at the beginning of 2012,
90,000 net additional jobs have been created in the Irish economy. The rate
of unemployment (using the CSO Standardised Unemployment Rate) was 10.0% in
March 2015, down from a high of 15.1% in February 2012.
Actions due in Quarter 1
In the first quarter of 2015, Departments and agencies were to deliver 113
measures relating to 85 of the Action Plan’s 382 actions. 101 of the
measures due in Quarter 1 of 2015 have been delivered, giving a completion
rate of 89%.
In delivering 101 first quarter measures under the Plan, the Government
has, for example:
As part of Disruptive Reform on National Talent Drive
o Progressed the development of a new model of apprenticeship training
in Ireland, in partnership with industry, through a Call for
Proposals from industry and education providers – proposals will now
be evaluated and recommendations made to the Minister for Education
and Skills.
o Completed the Call for Proposals under Springboard 2015 and commenced
evaluation of the proposals under this programme as well as
finalising programme design with the ICT sector to train 240 trainees
across four Skillnets networks, the delivery of which is now being
rolled out.
o Provided additional Employment Permits in areas of critical skills
needs, including ICT skills. The total number of permits issued to
end Q1 2015 (1,323) shows a 19% increase over the same quarter in
2014 (1,104). The total number of ICT permits issued to end Q1 2015
was 807 compared to 472 for Q1 2014, which represents a 71% increase
over last year. In all, 61% of the total permits issued in Q1 2015
were in respect of ICT professionals and can be attributed to the
success of the employment permits system in helping to fill key ICT
shortages in the Irish labour market.
As part of Disruptive Reform on Delivering Regional Potential
o Committed to the completion of Regional Enterprise Strategies (or
Regional Action Plans for Jobs) for each of 8 regions. Regional
strategies, which will be based on the strengths and enterprise
assets of each region, will be completed for six regions by mid-2015.
The remaining strategies (for Dublin and Mid-East) will be completed
in the second half of the year.
o In the context of the Regional Enterprise Strategies under
development, announced a €150 million investment, over 5 years,
through IDA Ireland, to support the development of property solutions
at regional level, to support the achievement of targets set out in
IDA Ireland’s new strategy.
o In the context of the Regional Enterprise Strategies under
development, announced investment of up to €100 million, over 5
years, through Enterprise Ireland, to support the development of
local and microenterprises and SMEs through targeted initiatives at
regional level.
As part of Disruptive Reform in the Strategic Banking Corporation of
Ireland
o Launched the first set of lending products under the Strategic
Banking Corporation of Ireland making available €400 million in
lending for SMEs through agreements signed with AIB and Bank of
Ireland. First loans have been available since 9 March 2015.
As part of Disruptive Reform on National Health Innovation Hub
· A call for proposals to host the National HIH closed on the 15th of
April. An independent panel is being appointed to review the
applications received and a final decision on the successful host for
the National Health Innovation Hub is on schedule for Q3.
As part of Disruptive Reform on Big Data
o Progressed a number of measures to strengthen the resources of the
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) including the
decision to establish a Dublin office for the OPPC as well as
establishing an Inter-Departmental Committee to ensure a coordinated
approach across Government to data protection issues and the
establishment of a forum for dialogue with industry and civil society
on these issues.
As part of Disruptive Reform Local Enterprise Offices
o Put in place across each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) a
Local Enterprise Development Plan setting out specific targets for
business start-up levels, business expansions, jobs created and jobs
sustained and initiatives to support enterprise and job creation in
each area.
o Strengthened the resources of individual LEOs through a graduate
placement programme providing increased capacity to strengthen
customer service and delivery of local enterprise plan targets and to
give the graduates an opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on
experience in the area of enterprise development.
o Commenced preparations for the 2015 Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur
(IBYE) competition building on the success of the 2014 competition
and drawing lessons from an evaluation of the impacts and outcomes of
that competition.
And more broadly, in Q1 Government has for example:
§ Announced a number of enhancements to the Micro-enterprise Loan Fund
through Microfinance Ireland (MFI) including removing the requirement on
micro-enterprises to have a bank refusal before applying for an MFI
loan, allowing the Board of MFI greater flexibility to adapt to market
changes, introducing an automatic referral system to MFI when banks
decline loans to micro-enterprises and developing a renewed and expanded
marketing and communications strategy. The enhancements are made on foot
of a review of MFI which was completed in Q1.
§ Increased the number of places for young people through JobsPlus
(financial incentive to employers to recruit from the Live Register)
through a dedicated JobsPlus Youth scheme. By reducing the qualifying
period of unemployment for persons under 25 from 12 months to 4 months,
support will be provided for an additional 1,500 young people through
JobsPlus Youth in the first year of its implementation.
§ Published a new 5 year strategy by IDA Ireland setting out challenging
goals for foreign direct investment building on the existing strong base
of FDI in the country. The strategy sets out actions that will be taken
to deliver a total of 80,000 gross new jobs in the economy by 2019 and a
net increase in employment by IDA supported companies of 35,000 over the
period.
§ Supported a further cohort of new food entrepreneurs under Food Works 3,
promoting market outlets for food start-up companies. Food Works 3 is
supporting 18 projects from over 125 applications. Through the Food
Academy initiative, support is being provided to an additional 29
companies to develop routes to market based on a partnership with the
retail sector.
§ Launched Calls through a number of programmes supporting research and
innovation across all sectors of the Irish economy including the 2015
Irish Research Council (IRC) Call under its Enterprise Partnership
Scheme.
§ Established a network of the Enterprise Ireland supported Technology
Gateways across the Institute of Technolgy (IoT) sector to ensure the
easy identification and maximum utilisation of the expertise within each
of the Gateways.
§ Established an expert group to examine and report on recommendations to
increase foreign and domestic investment in Ireland’s film and TV sound
stage studio infrastructure in the face of growing demand for
audiovisual content across multiple platforms. The expert group has
commenced deliberations and is likely to produce a proposal for
Government consideration in the coming months.
§ Launched a Strategy for the International Financial Services Sector
setting out actions to create a net additional 10,000 jobs in the sector
nationally by 2020. The Strategy includes actions to enhance the
competitiveness of the Irish IFS sector including in the areas of
skills, innovation, physical infrastructure, and regulation and actions
to leverage Ireland’s ICT strengths to become a global leader in
“fintech”.
§ In the context of 2015 Year of Design (ID 2015), supported a range of
design-led initiatives across the regions through a Design Innovation
Fund exploring, promoting and celebrating Irish design and designers
through events and activities. The first call has led to over 120
projects being allocated funding and a second call is now underway.