Dublin South West representative, Seán Crowe TD, has said the Government must back up its announcement that it aims to facilitate the creation of 20,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector by 2016, with imaginative initiatives.

Crowe pointed to the Government’s abysmal employment creation record and believes that any new initiative would first have to first tackle the high costs incurred by businesses in producing and transporting their products.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Unemployed workers and their families are crying out for good news that will give them some hope, and an opportunity to get back into the workplace.

“But there is understandable scepticism and, considering the Government’s track record since coming to power, a fear that this latest announcement will amount to little more than spin.

“I for one will not be holding my breath waiting for actual job announcements from this Government.

“The Government has done little to address the decline in the manufacturing sector in this state. In the past ten years this sector has contracted significantly and tens of thousands of jobs have been lost.

“This Government, and previous Governments, promised much in relation to supports for Irish manufacturing, but they have failed to deliver.

“They promised favourable tax reliefs, reductions in energy and transport costs, legislation on upward only rents, and yet nothing has actually happened to see a reduction in the costs that get goods from this island to their markets.

“All too often ministers make these announcements, yet at the same time implement cuts, such as increasing the pupil-teacher ratio for the Further Education and Training sector, that make the delivery of many of these type of training initiatives just not possible.

“All long-term job creation strategies must afford people the opportunity to up-skill and re-skill, in order to ensure they can avail of new employment opportunities.

“I hope in this case that the government does not repeat previous mistakes. It needs to match its rhetoric with funding and initiatives that will address the high cost of manufacturing in Ireland.

“Any initiative which seeks to maximise opportunities for growth by attracting investment, reducing company tax costs, and making efficiency savings in energy and waste regulation, will be warmly welcomed.

“The people of Dublin South West, especially those who have seen their traditional manufacturing jobs disappear, deserve no less.”

ENDS