The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Richard Bruton TD, will tomorrow (28
th March) convene the third meeting of the South East Forum in Waterford. The forum was established by Minister Bruton to drive implementation of the South East Employment Action Plan. The forum represents 24 agencies and key stakeholders.
Among the developments in the South East since the establishment of the Forum are:
·
Following a commitment in the South East Plan to bring a particular focus to the region, IDA Ireland has dramatically stepped up its focus on the South East with 26 site visits by potential investors to Waterford in 2012 (compared to a total of 11 in 2010). Site visits to the entire South East have increased from 16 in 2010 to 46 in 2012.
·
Among a range of jobs announcements for the region, Eishtec created 280 jobs in Waterford city, supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland, as well as 250 jobs the company announced for Wexford
·
A major focus has been put on stimulating start-ups in the region, including a €200k Competitive Fund and business development managers for 5 community enterprise centres
Minister Bruton said:
"The South East has suffered disproportionately from unemployment over the years, and shortly after taking office I established the South East Forum with a plan to address these problems. In the South East Employment Action Plan we committed to bring a particular focus to the region, by bringing together all the key State bodies together to pursue initiatives to support job-creation in the South East.
"Since then we have seen major progress, including several significant jobs announcements and a tripling of the number of site visits by IDA Ireland.
"I will continue to work with the South East forum, with all regional stakeholders and with members of the Oireachtas to ensure continued implementation of the South East action plan, and I am determined to ensure that through our work we will continue to see increased job-creation in the South East".
Notes to Editors:
This is Minister Bruton’s 12th visit to the South East and his 8th visit to Waterford in 24 months in office. Minister Bruton has also convened two Action Plan for Jobs Regional Business Forums, one in Wexford and Waterford.
Among the developments in the South East since the establishment of the Forum are:
·
Following a commitment in the South East Plan to bring a particular focus to the region, IDA Ireland has dramatically stepped up their focus on the South East with 26 site visits by potential investors to Waterford in 2012 (compared to a total of 11 in 2010). Site visits to the entire South East (Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary) have increased from 16 in 2010 to 46 in 2012.
·
Eishtec created 280 jobs in Waterford city, supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Enterprise Ireland, as well as 250 jobs in Wexford
·
A further 65 Enterprise Ireland-supported new jobs were in Waterford by Dawn Meats as a result of a 5 year €300m contract with McDonald’s restaurants;
·
Danone Baby Nutrition in Wexford announced an investment of €20m in its manufacturing facility which will create around 45 new jobs at its plant.
·
A major focus has been put on stimulating start-ups in the region. There was a competitive call for feasibility funding for new start-ups in the South East region. Funding of up to €20,000 per project will be made available for 10 proposals by Enterprise Ireland; 5 community enterprise centres have been approved funding for business development managers.
·
Science Foundation Ireland has funded 8 research awards to Waterford Institute of Technology.
·
Enterprise Ireland piloted a Graduate Placement Programme in the South East with 12 companies
List of State bodies represented at South East Forum:
Science Foundation Ireland
IDA
EI
FÁS
South East Regional Authority
Teagasc
Forfás
Fáilte Ireland
Skillnets
Higher Education Authority
Waterford IT
Carlow IT
Waterford County Enterprise Board
Waterford City Enterprise Board
Carlow County Enterprise Board
Kilkenny County Enterprise Board
Wexford County Enterprise Board
South Tipperary County Enterprise Board
Waterford City Council
South Tipperary County Council
Carlow County Council
Kilkenny County Council
Waterford County Council
Wexford County Council