New jobs initiative for Dublin aims to create 66,000 roles

The Government has announced a new jobs plan for Dublin that aims to create 66,000 roles over the coming years.

The initiative is one in a series of regional plans published in recent months meant to boost employment levels across Ireland.

The strategy will see a concerted effort to increase the number of start-ups in the capital by 25 per cent as well as a doubling of foreign direct investment. It is also intended to encourage further spending on research and development and upskilling and to faciliate a rise in visitor numbers to Dublin. Plans to expand the audio-visual sector- both as a production location and as a pool for talent and enterprise - is also envisaged.

According to Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton, some 90,000 jobs were lost in Dublin during the downturn. He said employment in the capital has returned to growth however since then with over 64,000 more people in work since the initial Action Plan for Jobs was announced in 2012.

“Dublin as the capital city and only city over 1 million population is a real driver of economic growth for Ireland. Getting the jobs market right in Dublin is crucial to our overall economic health as a country,” said Mr Bruton.

Business group Isme welcomed the plan but said it would only be successful if it had the support of all four councils in the capital. It also called for the appointment of a Dublin region ‘supremo’ to coordinate and drive projects in the city.

“The appointee should not hold an elected office and should be accountable to all stakeholders - the Government, the public and business, to successfully deliver on the priorities of the capital city, on time and on budget”, said Isme chief executive Mark Fielding.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce welcomed the announcement and its recognition of the strategic importance of the capital to the health of the national economy.

“A dedicated plan for Dublin is much-needed. The Dublin region is the economic engine that drives Ireland and is the country’s main link to the world economy,” said Dublin Chamber chief executive Gina Quin.