• Regions—published and started implementing regional jobs plans in so far five of the eight regions, part of the €250million regional strategy, targeting delivery of a combined total of 127,000 extra jobs over the coming years (in the plans published so far)
• Regions—launched a €10million initiative through the LEOs to support more start-up businesses in every county, and launched call for expressions of interest in €40million regional enterprise fund
• Skills—rolled out an additional 1,061 places on core ICT courses at NFQ levels 8-9
• Manufacturing—measures to support more manufacturing SMEs to improve productivity, including a €10million capital investment fund and a new LEAN programme—15 companies have benefited so far; published a guide on manufacturing supports
• R&D—launched the SFI Investigators Programme 2015, helping to develop a world-class research capability in STEM areas; approved additional funding for the National Institute for Bioprocess Research and Training (NIBRT) to invest in R&D in biologics drugs
• Start-ups—€500k fund to attract international start-ups to Ireland, Start-Up Gathering programme of events across the country
• Infrastructure—Government Capital Plan published, including €3billion of supports for enterprise
• Making work pay—Low Pay Commission Report and Government response, Collective Bargaining and REA legislation passes all stages
• Launched the Living Cities Initiative, aimed at rejuvenating eligible areas of Kilkenny, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, Cork and Dublin
• Launched Eircode, the new National Post Code system
• Finalised and published Enterprise 2025, 10-year strategic jobs plan

Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD said: “The Action Plan for Jobs is an important part of our effort to keep up the momentum on job creation as we work towards our target of reducing unemployment down to 6% by 2020. Over 1,000 new jobs a week were added to the economy in 2015 and we need to keep this momentum up so that we can keep the recovery going. I expect that, with our continued focus on the domestic and regional recovery, at least another 50,000 new jobs will be added to the economy in 2016 and that we will see more Irish people returning home than leaving.

“The domestic and regional economy was prioritised this year for new initiatives to spread the benefits of recovery around the country. One of the best innovations arising from the Action Plan for Jobs, and in recognition of the need to support young Irish entrepreneurship, is the development of the Best Young Entrepreneur competition organised by the Local Enterprise Offices. It is inspirational to see these young business leaders develop new ideas and create new jobs. This is just one example of how we are going to push on to deliver full employment.”

Tánaiste Joan Burton TD said: “The central focus of this Government has always been about jobs, and that focus is showing positive results. This week's figures, which show unemployment has fallen below nine per cent, represent a landmark moment for our recovery. But we have more to do to bring down unemployment further, to invest further in our workforce, and to ensure work pays. Through the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work we will continue our progress to full employment, and to a social recovery for all our people.”

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD said: “Two thirds of all new jobs are created by start-ups—that is why we have placed at the very heart of the Action Plan for Jobs our drive to encourage more people to start up new businesses. One key aspect of this is the Ireland's Best Young Enterpreneur (IBYE) competition—in its second year running, this is a great initiative to celebrate our amazing young business-people and provide real tangible support to them as they expand their businesses and ultimately create 1, 2, 10, or 50 extra jobs.

IBYE is a great example of what we are trying achieve through the Action Plan for Jobs. On its own it will not solve our jobs crisis. However by placing it into the Plan, subject to reporting mechanisms and oversight from the Taoiseach, we can be sure it will be implemented. And taken together with thousands of other actions which we have implemented through the Plan over recent years, it will help rebuild an economy based on real enterprises, innovation and exports—and create the jobs we need.”

The Action Plan for Jobs 14th Progress Report is available at: www.djei.ie/Djei/en/Publications/APJ2015-Second-Progress-Report.html

The Action Plan for Jobs 15th Progress Report is available at: www.djei.ie/Djei/en/Publications/APJ2015-Third-Progress-Report.html