144 out of 150 measures scheduled in the Action Plan for Jobs to be delivered in the first quarter of 2013 have been implemented, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation announced today [Friday] as they published the Action Plan for Jobs Fifth Progress Report.

Measures delivered include:

Implemented range of measures to deliver an additional 2,000 ICT graduates over the next year. The changes made aim to deliver an additional 700 additional employment permits in the ICT sector and an additional 1300 graduates from industry-led programmes, as well as a 33% decrease in processing time for permits. International research has shown that for every high-tech job created, a further 4 to 5 jobs are created elsewhere in the economy
Published and commenced implementing the Government’s plan to deliver an additional 20,000 manufacturing jobs by 2016
Approved a Government investment of €200million in seven world-class SFI research centres, in partnership with €100million industry investment
Implemented the 10 Point Tax Plan for the Small and Medium Enterprise Sector as announced in Budget 2013
A €1million initial investment in an industry-led technology centre in Big Data, a sector growing at 40% per annum which provides particular job opportunities for Ireland
Provided support for, via the National Pensions Reserve Fund, the delivery of a range of Funds totalling €850million aimed at providing credit for SMEs
The Taoiseach said:
“In response to the largest unemployment crisis ever faced by this State, the Government established a rolling multi-annual Action Plan for Jobs to get Ireland working again. Today’s progress report confirms that Government is delivering on its commitments to date, leading to real progress on our task of transforming the economy from one based on property speculation to one based on enterprise, exports and innovation. These plans are beginning to make a real impact with the creation of 1,000 new private sector jobs a month. However, although this is movement in the right direction, there is much more to be done and we will continue to accelerate job creation measures in our Action Plan.”

The Tánaiste said:
“Trade promotion and assisting indigenous business to trade is another area of activity vital to our recovery. I was pleased to launch, with Minister Bruton, the 2013 programme of Ministerial events targeting trade and investment for Ireland.

“Earlier this month I led a successful trade mission to Turkey where we made important progress in developing new markets for Irish business and, with over 30 million in contracts signed, helped to create and support jobs in Ireland”.

Minister Bruton said:
“We are starting to see real progress with our plan to rebuild the economy after 250,000 jobs were lost during the last three years of the previous Government due to the collapse of their economic model based on property, banking and debt. We know that many people have yet to feel the effects of this progress, and that many people are really struggling.

“Over the past 15 months an additional 15,000 jobs have been created in the private sector. Irish and multinational exporting companies had record years in 2012, with major jobs announcements by companies like PayPal and Kerry Group, and our exports have hit levels 16% above the pre-2008 high.

“Today’s announcement shows that the progress is continuing. Jobs will remain our top priority, and we will continue to implement the changes necessary to rebuild the economy. We will continue to deliver on our plan and accelerate the transition to a sustainable, economy based on exports, innovation and enterprise that can provide the jobs that we so badly need”.

Further measures delivered include:
· Approved the creation of an Energy Efficiency Fund to support innovative energy efficiency in the public and commercial sectors

Continued to roll out the Pathways to Work initiative including the integrated Intreo service, and published of quarterly targets by which to measure progress.
Encouraged and reported on restraint exercised in setting commercial rates for 2013 by Local Authorities. 87 out of the 88 rating authorities have either reduced their ARV or kept it the same as in 2012. The average nationwide decrease is 0.34%. This follows similar decreases of 0.31% in 2012, 0.64% in 2011 and 0.62% in 2010
Led an intensive schedule of international visits and events targeting trade and investment for Ireland. As part of the St. Patrick’s Day “Promote Ireland” programme 19 Government Ministers, including the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister Bruton, travelled to 21 countries, took part in a total of over 150 business-related events and 30 high-level political meetings. Other missions included the Tánaiste’s trade mission of 24 companies to Turkey and Minister Bruton’s trade mission of 40 Irish companies to Texas.
The complete Progress Report can be found at the following link: http://www.djei.ie/publications/2013APJ_First_Progress_Report.pdf