4,000+ net jobs created in Cork by IDA and Enterprise Ireland since 2011 – Collins

Govt’s jobs policy is getting people back to work with increase of 1,000 jobs a month created nationally over last 15 months

Fine Gael Cork North West Deputy, Áine Collins, has today (Tuesday) said recent figures from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, which show that in excess of 4,000 net jobs have been created by Enterprise Ireland (EI) and IDA-supported companies since Fine Gael and Labour came to power, are proof that the Government’s jobs strategy is working.

“In the last two years, the number of jobs being created in Enterprise Ireland and IDA-supported companies has resulted in thousands of people getting back to work. Over the last 15 months we have seen an increase of 1,000 jobs per month being created in the private sector, with 2012 registering the first annual increase in employment in five years.

“Where Cork is concerned, the last two years have seen a steady increase in the number of permanent, full-time jobs being created by the two State agencies, halting the slide in the number of job losses being experienced in the preceding years.

“In 2011 in Cork, IDA Ireland recorded an increase of 1,990 jobs and 900 job losses. EI increased job numbers by 1,997, with 624 jobs being lost. Last year, the IDA increased jobs by 1,979 and lost 991 jobs, while EI recorded gains of 1,663 but lost 818 jobs in Cork. Overall, this means that a net increase of 4,296 jobs was secured by the two agencies in Cork since the Government came to office. This is in stark contrast to the previous years when a net 3,117 jobs were lost by EI alone in the county.

“The IDA has had two record years in 2011 and 2012, with a net increase of 12,500 employed in supported companies nationally. Enterprise Ireland also registered a record year last year, with a net increase of over 3,000 jobs in supported companies.

“When the Government came to office, somewhere in the region of 90,000 private sector jobs a year were being lost and the economy was in absolute freefall. Within the first 100 days, Minister Bruton introduced the Jobs Initiative and set about radically overhauling how business is done in this country.

“By making it easier for home-grown businesses to get started and improving the attractiveness of Ireland as a place for Foreign Direct Investment, we are slowing getting our economy back on track. It is not going to happen overnight and, while this is a great start, we know that there is still much work to be done to help indigenous businesses to grow and entrepreneurs to get started. These figures are, however, proof that we are moving in the right direction and that the Government’s plan to get our people off the dole and back to work is showing real signs of working.”