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Action Plan for Jobs Welcome

  • Introduction of a new apprentice programme & 4000 traineeships welcome
  • Focus on regional growth vital
  • Greater emphasis is needed on the SME sector

ISME, the Irish SME Association today (March 12th) welcomes the recent publication of the Governments Action Plan for Jobs 2018. The Action Plan is the 7th cross-Departmental annual plan to support job creation, while Enterprise 2025 Renewed is a review of Irelands longer term enterprise strategy. While welcoming the many positives within this Action Plan, the Association emphasises the need for greater supports for SMEs outside of the HSPU category.

Commenting on this ISME CEO Neil McDonnell saidThe pronouncements made in this Action Plan for Jobs are welcome. We particularly welcome the announcement of the support of 6,000 apprenticeship registrations, the introduction of 10 new apprenticeships programmes, and almost 4,000 traineeships. Such measures will assist in the activation of a larger, innovative and skilled workforce”

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to creating 200,000 new jobs by 2020, particularly 135,000 of these jobs due for outside of the Dublin region. The success of our SMEs across the country is dependent on our employment within our towns and villages. Government’s commitment to greater regional development and supports will help sustain our sustain our communities providing the measures announced are implemented effectively”

He added

“Our domestic industrial policy is under threat from the east and west. There needs to be a shift in our thinking when it comes to resourcing and supporting our SMEs, and not just one’s pertaining to High Potential and Early Start-ups (HPSU). The Action Plan must cater for the entire SME sector”

For a full breakdown of publication see here