Update: Manufacturing Sector Creating Employment – Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 16th October, 2014

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which the manufacturing sector continues to create employment; the extent to which efforts continue to be made to ensure the retention of the maximum number of manufacturing jobs throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

*    For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 16th October, 2014.
 

Ref No:   39657/14

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Mr Bruton)

The Forfás Strategy for the Manufacturing Sector, which I commissioned, and which was published in April 2013, identified that an additional 20,000 jobs can be created in the sector by 2016.  A complementary report on the skills needs for the sector, which I had commissioned at the same time, was published by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and Forfás, and it identified a series of actions to enhance skills in the sector.  

Arising from the Manufacturing Strategy andthe Skills Report, there are now a range of initiatives in hand by relevant Agencies to drive the 2016 target, with key actions from both reports having been incorporated into the Action Plans for Jobs for 2013 and 2014.  One of the key actions is to deliver a National Step Change initiative to strengthen Ireland’s manufacturing base across all firms engaged in manufacturing i.e. small and medium-sized firms and larger multi-nationals, particularly in higher-value sub sectors such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and food.  In addition a wide range of training and educational initiatives are underway by the relevant providers, such as Skillnets.

Both IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland are working with both existing and prospective new client companies to promote the sector in Ireland, with consequent job creation and retention, and several recent new job announcements have been in respect of companies engaged in manufacturing, which is very heartening.

In relation to overall employment in the manufacturing sector, the sector supports over 400,000 employees when account is taken of indirect jobs.  I am confident that the measures currently underway will help develop and grow the manufacturing sector in Ireland which, in turn, will lead to the creation of sustainable employment.