Fine Gael aims to help create 200,000 additional jobs by 2020

Fine Gael Ministers tonight (Friday) outlined the Party’s plan to create help create an additional 200,000 jobs by 2020. Ministers Richard Bruton, Simon Coveney and Paschal Donohoe were speaking at the Party’s Ard Fheis in the Citywest Hotel.

The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said: ‘At the heart of Fine Gael’s vision is a country where we have strong self-sustaining regions. Jobs are growing in every region but they are growing at a faster rate in some regions than in others. That is why we have put in place a plan in each of the eight regions to accelerate this growth in each region, and deliver powerful self-sustaining powerhouses in each region. Each of those plans builds on the unique capacities and opportunities of that region so each region can fulfil its jobs potential. These regional jobs plans are a core part of our Long Term Economic Plan. Its aim is to create 200,000 additional jobs by 2020 – spread across all regions.

We face an uncertain global economic environment ahead. It is only through a relentless focus on delivering every aspect of this Long Term Economic Plan that we can deliver these job opportunities and invest in fixing the damage which the crash inflicted on families across the country.”

The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD said: “Fine Gael is fully committed to an economic recovery that extends far beyond our cities and towns, to the heart of rural Ireland. Our prioritisation of the agri-food industry is proof of that. Through a difficult and dark period for the economy, the agri-food industry has been a shining light.  Our plan for this sector, supported by industry, involves creating 23,000 jobs over the next ten years, providing sustainable employment in every community across the country.”

The Minister for Transport, Sport and Tourism, Paschal Donohoe TD said: “Thanks to hard work of the Irish people, we are experiencing an economic recovery that many in the opposition said would never happen. New businesses are opening and expanding. Over 135,000 new, high quality jobs have been created at a rate of almost 5,000 every month. And 2016 looks like seeing a return to net inward migration for the first time since the crash.

Fine Gael is the only party with a long term plan, a plan to create jobs, to make work pay and use the benefits of an economy that works to fund the services and infrastructure that people need. Because without a growing economy, you cannot invest for the future.”