The Action Plan for Jobs launched today contains progressive measures that will help get the country back to work.

The Action Plan for Jobs will make it cheaper and easier to do business and to create jobs. It will support existing Irish businesses and new start-ups, while helping to attract inward investment from overseas. The Plan will set the environment to achieve the Taoiseach’s aim of having 100,000 more people working and making Ireland the best small country in the world in which to do business by 2016.

The Plan changes the way Government interacts with business, by cutting costs and red tape. It contains 15 key actions to make it easier to do business and grow jobs. Under a key element of the plan, County Enterprise Boards will be replaced by a new One Stop Shop micro enterprise support structure. Through a new network of Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities, Enterprise Ireland will provide expert help to start-up businesses at a local level. We want to encourage firms to sell their products abroad in lucrative export markets. Enterprise Ireland will identify a wider group of potential exporting companies under a new Potential Exporters Division. The corporation tax exemption for start-ups will be extended to 2014, and a new Development Capital Scheme will help fund mid-sized indigenous companies with major growth potential.

Accessing credit remains a major challenge for many firms; this will be directly addressed by the Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Micro Finance Fund, which will help businesses struggling to get loans. To help indigenous firms grow their business here public procurement will be made more accessible to SMEs and it will be easier for small businesses to win contracts with large multinationals. Funding will also be increased for mentoring and development programmes for SME managers. A range of initiatives will target sectors that have high potential for growth including manufacturing, life-sciences, cloud computing, digital gaming, agri-food and tourism. This sustainable model will consign the bubble-economics policies of the previous Government to history.

This Plan is a working document and its targets will be closely monitored and updated on a quarterly basis. Every Government department must play its part. By restructuring the banks, reforming our employment and training services, establishing NewERA and introducing a more sustainable taxation system the Government has already taken the steps necessary to rebuild our broken economy. This Plan will build on this progress with the ultimate aim of getting Ireland back to work.

The provisions contained in the Finance Bill 2012, on changes to the Universal Social Charge and mortgage interest relief, are aimed at alleviating the pressure on those most in need and rebalancing the scales in favour of fairness.

The publication of the Finance Bill 2012, gives effect to the targeted measures announced in this year’s Budget. Contained within the Bill is a provision to increase mortgage interest relief to 30% for first-time buyers who purchased their homes between 2004 and 2008.

This measure will have a significant impact on many families and young people who bought during the peak and are now mired in negativity equity. This was a pre-election promise made by Fine Gael, which formed part of the Programme for Government, that the naysayers said couldn’t be done. Fine Gael has long recognised the plight of the negative equity generation and I am delighted that the Minister for Finance has been able to deliver on this commitment, despite the difficult economic situation.

Changes to the Universal Social Charge, the exemption threshold for which has been increased from €4,004 to €10,036, will remove 330,000 people from the tax net and put much needed money back in their pockets.

The mistakes of the past, in respect of our heady love affair with property, can never be allowed to happen again. However, every country should have a functioning property market that contributes to Exchequer funds. For this reason, the Minister has included a provision for mortgage interest relief to be available at 25% for first-time buyers who purchase in 2012 and at a rate of 15% for non-first-time buyers. This will encourage those who are hoping to get on the property ladder, or to move house, to do so this year.

The Government is working hard to clean up the mess created by Fianna Fáil over the last decade. The Personal Insolvency Bill, the heads of which have been published recently, together with the targeted and effective measures contained in the Finance Bill, will help to alleviate the pressure on those in negative equity and lower paid workers while offering a stimulus to those hoping to own their own home.

The mortgage interest relief measure in the budget will benefit an estimated 214,000 people who bought their first home during the peak of the property boom.

This increase in mortgage relief will free up a significant amount of money for hard pressed families and help them hold on to their homes. By increasing the Mortgage Interest Relief to 30% for people who bought between 2004-2008, Minister Noonan has eased the pressure on those who are possibly the biggest victims of the economic collapse. Increasing mortgage interest relief was at the core of Fine Gael’s proposals during the General Election.

I am extremely pleased that we are able provide this essential support to families who may be teetering on the edge of mortgage default and those living in fear of losing their jobs. I have heard from so many people who paid hugely inflated prices for their homes and are now struggling to pay their mortgage. I genuinely believe that this measure will make life a little bit easier for them.

Despite the extreme challenges involved in managing the economy in these very challenging times, we are determined to be as fair as possible. One of the first actions of this Government was to reverse the cut in the minimum wage which was introduced by the last Government. As with the abolition of the Universal Social Charge (USC) for low earners and yesterday’s increase in mortgage interest relief, I am pleased that we now have a Government that is determined to be as fair as possible throughout the budgetary process.

This is the first Government measure taken since the property market collapsed in 2008 that has given hope to struggling homeowners that bought their first home during the boom.

I urge people right across Carlow/Kilkenny to get on board for The Gathering and start thinking about how you can be involved in the biggest tourism initiative this country has ever seen.

The Gathering, as announced by the Minister for Tourism, Leo Varadkar, will be a year-long programme of events in 2013 aimed at showcasing the best that Ireland has to offer. While major festivals will play a huge role, there will also be a focus on gatherings organised by local community groups and organisations.

Now is the time to start coming up with ideas and for local individuals, clubs and groups to put their thinking hats on. An event could be anything from a family reunion to a sporting event or a local festival. It’s all aimed at getting the Irish abroad and anyone with an interest in Ireland to come to these shores in 2013. It’s hoped the Gathering could attract an extra 300,000 visitors to Ireland, with huge economic benefits. This is something the whole country can share in.

I am sure there are people throughout Carlow/Kilkenny who already have great ideas. Let’s work together on this one to come up with ways for each community to take part. If you are a member of a club or an organisation, why not get together now and think about how you can make your mark.

There’s a huge reserve of talent and goodwill right across the country that is just waiting to be tapped into. So I am encouraging people to talk to neighbours, family, colleagues and club mates and get on board for The Gathering. You can register your interest by submitting an email address to www.gatheringireland.com.”

Kilkenny Co Council has received extra funding to prepare for extreme weather conditions.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has allocated an extra €39,813 to assist the Council deal with winter maintenance and to keep important roads clear.

We must do everything we can to prepare Ireland for extreme weather conditions. Every extreme winter in recent years has seen salt stocks running perilously low.  Hopefully, local authorities will have access to sufficient supplies of salt this year, and sufficient resources to spread it, as a result of this extra funding.

We have no way of knowing whether another severe winter is on the way. But we must do our very best to be prepared.”

The extra €1.25 million nationally, along with the direct purchase of some 60,000 tonnes of salt, was possible through savings in the Department. It means that local authorities will have access to some 60,000 tonnes of salt, on top of the supplies purchased separately by the National Roads Authority.

The funding will help to cover the cost of purchasing, transporting, storing and spreading salt, and other works associated with extreme weather conditions.

Today’s announcement of free access to all Office of Public Works (OPW) Heritage sites on the first Wednesday of every month, should encourage people to visit local sites such as Kilkenny Castle, Jerpoint Abbey and Dunmore Caves.

This initiative is aimed at stimulating an interest in our heritage sites and encouraging visits by a wider section of all communities living in Ireland, in addition to visitors from abroad.

This is a pilot project, until the end of 2011 when it will be reviewed. Visit www.heritageireland.ie for further information on all OPW managed sites.

 The Government’s new internship scheme will provide 5,000 places for people who are unemployed and are struggling to access the jobs market.

JobBridge, the new National Internship Programme, is a hugely welcome initiative, which will help thousands of people who feel stuck on the Live Register gain access to the jobs market.

There are a huge number of very talented people who are out of work at present; this scheme will offer many of them the chance to get back on the ladder to full time employment. Hundreds of companies have already expressed interest in the programme, ranging from semi-state bodies to multinational corporations. About 300 organisations have indicated that they will take on 1,000 interns between them.

This is a hugely positive start and a strong sign that take-up for the scheme will be significant. Anyone who has been on the Live Register for at least three months is eligible to apply for the scheme. Internships will run for six or nine months and the interns will receive an allowance of €50 a week, on top of their existing social welfare entitlements. This top-up will be covered by the Department of Social Protection, meaning there will be no additional cost for employers.

I am encouraging job seekers and employers across Carlow and Kilkenny to check out this new scheme. It will be hugely beneficial for participants on both sides. For job seekers, the programme offers invaluable hands-on experience and access to contacts and references that can only enhance the possibility of securing full time employment. And for the companies involved, the scheme allows them to bring talented and enthusiastic individuals into their organisation. I would be hopeful that many of the interns who are taken on will become full time employees in the long run.

The scheme is just the sort of labour activation measure that has been so badly needed for those on the Live Register. The previous Fianna Fail Government made empty promises about creating placements which never materialised. But this scheme is a reality and, from this Friday, prospective interns will be able to go online and check out the range of places up for grabs. Interested parties can log on to www.jobbridge.ie now for more information.

New laws being brought forward by the Government will help speed up investigations into white collar crime and bring those guilty of banking offences to justice.

The public has been left bewildered and frustrated over the last few years over the length of time it’s taking to bring white collar criminals before the courts. We have seen our economy decimated by reckless actions, and yet it seems no one is being held responsible. People have understandably felt like those behind these crimes are untouchable. The Government is determined to put an end to that situation.

Fine Gael has long been calling for reforms in this area, and now in Government we are delivering on our pre-election promises. The Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has today published a Bill that will give the Gardaí greater powers and help to quicken the pace of current and future investigations. The proposals target a range of complex and serious offences, including crimes in the areas of banking and finance, corruption, money laundering and cybercrime.

The powers of investigation of the Gardaí will be strengthened on a number of fronts. New procedures will make it easier for officers to gain access to the documents and information they need to bring forward successful prosecutions. A new offence relating to the withholding of information means people will be compelled to co-operate with the Gardaí. And a changed approach to detention periods will make it possible for a suspect’s detention to be suspended, so further investigations can be carried out.

These measures are much needed, and the speed with which they are being brought forward is proof of the high priority this Government is giving to tackling the issue of white collar crime. I am confident that this Bill will greatly aid the Gardaí in the course of their investigations, and will ultimately lead to white collar criminals facing the full rigours of the law.

The newly announced forestry premiums for 2011 will involve the payment of €56.2 million to around 11,500 forest owners around the country.

Forestry is vital to the livelihoods of many farmers. I urge would urge farmers to avail of this scheme.
Forestry premiums provide farmers with an annual income stream from their woodland.  The premium is calculated according to land status (i.e. enclosed or unenclosed), tree species planted, as well as farm and plantation size. 

There are the numerous benefits of forestry for farmers, forest owners and for the wider economy. On top of the premium payments, forest owners can avail of returns from thinnings, due to the increasing popularity of wood-energy, and the clear-fell of their forestry plantation. Forestry is of long term economic benefit for the economy in that it generates jobs and contributes to our national exports. It also provides benefits to the environment and recreation and amenity value to society in general.

Forestry premiums are payable each year for twenty years for farmers and for fifteen years for non-farmers. There is usually a main forestry premium payment run at which time most forest owners, to whom a premium payment is due, are paid.

The Forest Service promotes afforestation as a viable land use for farmers through the provision of planting grants and payment of annual premiums.  In 2010, over €107 million of capital expenditure was invested in afforestation grants and premia mainly comprising €27.6 million on Afforestation 1st Instalment Grants, €7.4 million on Afforestation 2nd Instalment Grants and €72.3 million on Afforestation Premium payments.  An additional €6.6 million was spent on other forestry support schemes for forestry and woodland development projects.

A total of €114.5 million in funding for capital and current expenditure has been allocated for the overall forestry programme in 2011.  This should facilitate payment for between 7,500 and 8,000 hectares of new planting.