Plan to create jobs in southeast published

A PLAN to boost employment in the southeast has been published in the wake of the loss of 575 jobs at telecoms firm TalkTalk in October.

Increased efforts by the IDA to attract foreign direct investment in life sciences, financial services and clean technology are among the strategies outlined in the report, prepared by Forfás.

As part of the initiative, Enterprise Ireland will offer funding of up to €20,000 to each of 10 start- up projects in the region and will promote additional €5,000 grants for investment in local innovation.

The region has “higher than average levels” of unemployment and “fared disproportionately badly” in the recession, said Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton, who published the report yesterday. Unemployment in the region is at 18.2 per cent, while the national average is 14.3 per cent.

The plan was “just a start” but a challenge built up over many years would not be turned around in a matter of months, Mr Bruton said.