A new SURE tax incentive to help people start their own businesses and a 60pc increase in ICT graduates are key measures of the latest step in Ireland’s plan to achieve full employment by 2018.
The latest stage in the plan, which sets out job creation deadlines and responsibilities of 60 State agencies, includes a National Talent Drive that involves a 60pc increase in the number of ICT graduates from the higher education system by 2018.
The new president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland, Intel Ireland general manager Eamonn Sinnott, welcomed an increase in ICT graduates.
“The plan’s commitment to a national talent drive, with targets and a tracking of performance, is the right approach. It will be welcomed by the leaders of the US FDI sector in Ireland who are engaged in a fiercely competitive global battle for talent.
“The chamber notes that the plan commits actions by 16 Government department and 60 agencies – it is vital that each plays their part and that a ‘joined up’ approach is demonstrated across all these bodies in delivering the plan’s ambitious targets,” Sinnott said.
Making starting up a SURE thing
Also included in the plan are new measures to deliver a SURE tax incentive to provide funding for people starting businesses and a Start-up Gathering that will be held during 2015.
Some 27,000 new jobs in exporting companies are also being targeted by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. Exports by Irish companies supported by Enterprise Ireland are targeted to hit a record €19bn during 2015.
Regional Enterprise Strategies to be rolled out shortly across the country – including competitive funding initiatives of up to €25m – are aimed at encouraging stakeholders in each region to co-operate to develop projects to support enterprise and job creation in their areas.
Ireland to be a European leader in intellectual property
The plan also includes measures make Ireland a European leader for intellectual property activities by business – including doubling by 2018 the number of patents, industrial designs registered and other measurable IP activities by businesses in Ireland. It also involves the establishment during 2015 of a National Health Innovation Hub.
Under the plan, Ireland will also endeavour to become Europe’s Energy Innovation Hub by 2020 – by becoming a world leader in key parts of the innovative energy sector, it will attract more mobile investment and develop more Irish businesses.
The plan also aims to cut red tape by reducing the administrative burden of 750,000 business interactions with Government in 2015, and by delivering a streamlined online system for applying for 29 retail licences in early 2015.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD, emphasised that regional growth will be essential if a rising economic tide is to raise all boats.
“As part of the Action Plan, a number of Government agencies will be shortly outlining their regional enterprise plans to map out what they will do to help create new jobs across Ireland.
“This is an essential part of our plan to ensure the recovery is felt nationwide and leads to balanced economic development. As we continue to plot the path to full employment in 2018, I expect that next year we will see more Irish people returning home to take up jobs than those leaving. This will be an important turning point in our economic recovery,” Kenny said.
IT workers image via Shutterstock
