96% of Action Plan for Jobs measures delivered as tech sector thrives
Fine Gael Dublin Central Deputy, Paschal Donohoe, has today (Friday) said that evidence that the Government’s plan for the technology sector is working can be seen by the announcement of 121 jobs in four different companies today (Friday).
Deputy Donohoe went on to say that the Action Plan for Jobs (APJ), which has identified and targeted the ICT sector for potential growth and development, has delivered 96% of the measures scheduled for the first quarter of 2013.
“The single biggest challenge facing this Government, and this country, is to get our people back to work. While we recognise that we have a long way to go, we are starting to see real signs of progress on the jobs front with the first annual increase in jobs figures being recorded last year since 2008 and 1,000 private sector jobs now being created every month.
“The APJ has identified a number of different sectors that have the potential to grow and create the jobs we so badly need; of which ICT is one. Today we are seeing the fruit of those labours with 21 jobs being created at business technology consultancy specialists, Storm Technology in Dublin and Galway; 30 jobs at data systems company, Opensky in Naas; 50 jobs at management software company, Fineos in Dublin and 20 jobs at wireless technology company, QUALCOMM in Cork.
“Ensuring that our indigenous industries are given the support they need to expand and develop overseas markets is key to building a sustainable, economy based on exports, innovation and enterprise and getting people back to work. Ireland has been steadily building an international reputation for the strengths we demonstrate in ICT and over the past two years we have added 11,000 additional jobs to this sector. International research has shown that for every high-tech job created, a further four to five jobs are created elsewhere in the economy, emphasising the important role this sector will play in our recovery.
“By developing overseas markets through trade missions we can build on the success of our export companies, which last year recorded levels 16% above the pre-crisis high. Measures contained in the APJ to deliver 2,000 additional ICT graduates over the next year and to support an additional 1300 graduates from industry-led programmes will ensure that we are producing the calibre of graduates needed to fill the jobs that are being created.
“I commend the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and his Department for their hard work and look forward to building on the success to date until our unemployment figures are at an all-time low and our economy is back on a stable footing.”