Responding to the Governments announcement of the €39 Billion Infrastructure Investment Programme for the period 2010-2016, the Irish Exporter Association (IEA) chief executive John Whelan stated;

‘’ The Irish Exporters Association welcomes the revised Capital investment programme announcement made on the 27th July. It has been clear since the commencement of the recession that a reprioritising of the Governments Capital investment plan would be necessary , and there was a real danger of drift in capital allocation to less critical projects, while there was a lack of a formal reprioritising from Government.’’

‘’ However, the capital allocation for Enterprise and Innovation ,which is geared to enhance the competitiveness and export potential of businesses in Ireland , is less than 10% of the total over the 7 years of the programme, and will be approximately one third less than the support given over the past 7 years .’’

He went on to say;
‘’Support by IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise boards to support foreign and Irish owned businesses to expand their exports out of Ireland will create 270,000 jobs over the time frame of the investment programme, but will still leave a large number unemployed. A further €500 million stimulus to the export sector over the life of the programme would be necessary to bring job creation up to the employment level we had back in 2007.’’

In conclusion Mr Whelan stated;
‘’We look forward to working with Government and the support agencies to ensure export industry leads the way to economic and job recovery in the years to 2016, and to see where any further allocation into direct job creating support may be achieved.’’

END

For further information, please contact:
John Whelan, Chief Executive
Mobile : 087 927 1243
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