Action Plan for Jobs: Effective Delivery Will Be Key

Wexford Chambers  has welcomed the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 but warned that the focus must now be on delivery of these actions.

Speaking this morning, Madeleine Quirke, CEO Wexford Chamber, said, “Since the introduction of the first Action Plan for Jobs, significant progress has been made in increasing employment numbers. The Action Plan for Jobs outlines many measures that have the potential to create further employment.  We have consistently called for increased access to finance for SMEs along with better promotion of funding schemes already in place and these commitments are welcome.”

“Improved procurement procedures, which are inclusive of SMEs, are a progressive move; however, more can be done in the short term. Revising Circular 10/10 and the rapid transposition of EU procurement legislation – without any ‘gold-plating’ – could be achieved much sooner. It is also vital that current skills gaps are closed by aligning skills with industry needs; multiple agencies must work together and include local businesses in the design and implementation of courses.”

“Overall, the actions outlined in this plan signal significant progress towards growth and job creation; however, they must be delivered in an efficient and timely manner if they are to have the desired effect. The Action Plan for Jobs has been one of the means of tackling the perennial problem of lack of implementation on key policies and we look forward to resolute execution of these plans taking place in 2014,” she concluded.

Click here to read Chambers Ireland’s submission to the Action Plan for Jobs 2014.