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Tag Archives: Richard Bruton

Mid-West interest in Brexit event

The Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald, along with Minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton, have today (Monday) hosted a joint stakeholder dialogue on “Enterprise Skills Needs and Brexit” in the Aviva in Dublin. This event is part of the Government’s ongoing dialogue with stakeholders in relation to the impacts of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. It provides an opportunity to hear the voices of those affected by Brexit, both directly and through representative groups. The event is of considerable interest to Mid-West businesses and industries that are heavily dependent on links with the UK. Noting that action to improve the skills base represents one of the most practical and effective domestic responses to Brexit, the Tánaiste said “Government is well prepared for the negotiations around the UK exit from the EU but we need to be ready on all fronts to deal with the implications of Brexit and the skills area is …

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Decision soon on Killaloe school revamp

A decision is expected to be made soon that would speed up the much needed redevelopment of St Anne’s Community College in Killaloe, according to Clare TD Timmy Dooley. Deputy Dooley made the comments after receiving a parliamentary reply from the Minister for Education which outlined the current state of play with regard to the construction project at the school. “I am led to believe that the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, which has been tasked with delivering this project, have now completed their report, and it has been sent to the Department of Education for a final decision. At present, this report is being reviewed by officials in the Minister’s office and in the forward planning unit of the Department. “The next step is the awarding of the tender to the successful bidder, and then construction can commence. “This will be the fourth extension of the college since its establishment in 1987, and one that is urgently …

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€2.25m boost for information skills learning

A €2.25 million injection to boost Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Skills development, with additional summer camps for second level students being developed, as well as up to 700 additional places on ICT courses has been announced. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) will write to higher education institutions to seek proposals for three calls: · Additional ICT Summer Camps for second level students, · Additional undergraduate places on core level 8 full-time courses · A call for full-time level 9 MSc computing courses. Making the announcement, Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton said, “A goal of the Action Plan for Education is to build stronger bridges between education and the wider community, support learners to make informed career choices and enhance our capacity to meet national and regional skills needs. “We want to give student’s access to higher education people and spaces to help stimulate their interest and understanding of what computing and ICT is all about. Through summer …

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IDA’s three visits to Clare in 2016

THERE were three IDA Ireland-sponsored site visits to Clare in the first quarter of this year, according to figures provided in the Dáil. The three visits to Clare were far behind neighbouring counties – there were 10 to Galway and nine to Limerick in the same three months. Speaking in the Dáil, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said, “While IDA Ireland does attempt to influence the choice of location, the final decision as to where to visit and, ultimately, locate is taken in all cases by the client company. “It is important to note that data on site visits is not an accurate measure of the level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in a region or county. That is partly because approximately 70% of all FDI investment won by IDA Ireland comes from its existing client base, rather than new companies. “The true measure of FDI is reflected in IDA Ireland’s record 2015 results. IDA Ireland …

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Government’s Mid-West Action Plan

The Government has today (Monday) launched the Mid-West Action Plan for Jobs, aimed at delivering 10-15% employment growth in the region by 2020. The plan is the fourth of eight regional jobs plans to be published as part of a new €250million regional jobs strategy led by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton. Having suffered very badly during the economic crisis, unemployment has now fallen from 16% when the first national Action Plan was launched to 11.2% this year. Numbers in work have started to steadily increase, with agency led jobs growing by 9% between 2011 and 2014. At the launch in Limerick, Minister Bruton said the challenge for this Regional Action Plan is to build on that success and target growth in key sectors of potential like Aviation, Lifesciences, Engineering, Internationally Traded Services and Tourism. If the potential of these sectors is harnessed properly an extra 23,000 jobs can be added by 2020. Key targets of …

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Further fall in Live Register figures

The latest Live Register figures, show a continuing fall in the numbers of people signing on, marking 39 consecutive months of decrease. Annual decreases in Live Register figures occurred in all eight regions, with the fastest decrease occurring in the Mid-West region. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton welcomed the fact that the figures show signs that the positive trends are accelerating. On a seasonally adjusted basis, 4,300 people left the live register in February. The standardised unemployment rate is at 10.1%, down 0.2% in the month, and down from a high of 15.1% in February 2012, when the Government launched and started implementing the Action Plan for Jobs. The figures also show that, in gross terms, 141,151 people left the Live Register to take up work during the last 12 months. This means that the exit rate from the Live Register into work is running at 40% – up from 33% in 2012. Minister Bruton said, …

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Live register figures down

The December 2014 Live Register figures published today (Wednesday) show a decline of 3,300 compared to the November figures. This represents 37 consecutive months of decrease in the live register and means that the unemployment rate now stands at 10.6 per cent, down from a peak of 15.1% in February 2012. More than 140,000 people left the live register to go into employment over the last 12months. The figures also show that the live register has decreased in all eight regions of the country over the past 12 months. Both the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton and the director of the Small Firms Association, Patricia Callan have welcomed the improved position, confirmed in the CSO figures. However, Ms Callan stated, “It is imperative that the Government delivers a comprehensive Action Plan for Jobs 2015 later this month. As a general principle, we believe that every single policy emanating from Government should be centrally “job-proofed”, as many different …

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Local Enterprise Offices launch

GOVERNMENT top brass will be out in force tomorrow (Tuesday) for the national launch of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOS). Taoiseach, Enda Kenny; Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore; Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton and Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan will attend the launch at Westmeath Local Enterprise Office in Mullingar. Tomorrow’s event will announce that the 31 Local Enterprise Offices, based in every county, are now open for business and that 35 independent State agencies previously providing services in this area are now abolished. The LEOs will provide a “first-stop-shop” for all government supports for small business in easily accessible locations across the country.  

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