An action plan to boost employment in the southeast region, which saw the loss of 575 TalkTalk jobs in October, was published by the Minister for Enterprise today.
Increased efforts by the IDA to attract foreign direct investment in life sciences, financial services and clean technology, are among the plans outlined in the report.
As part of the initiative, Enterprise Ireland will offer funding of up to €20,000 to ten start-up projects in the region and will promote the additional take-up of €5,000 grants to invest in innovation in the region.
The region has “higher than average levels” of unemployment and “fared disproportionately badly” in the recession, Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton said. Unemployment in the region is at 18.2 per cent against the national average of 14.3 per cent.
The action plan was “just a start”, but a challenge built up over many years would not be turned around in matter of months, Mr Bruton said in a statement.
The South East Region Employment Action Plan: Spotlight on the South East report was prepared by Forfás at the request of Mr Bruton in consultation with local stakeholders.
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