Tithe an Oireachtais Houses of the Oireachtas An Comhchoiste um Poist, Fiontair agus Nuálaíocht Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Straitéis Forbartha Eacnamaíochta an Oirdheiscirt 2013 -2023 South East Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) 2013 -2023 Cuir síos na síolta – Cuir fás faoin Eacnamaíocht Plant the SEEDS – Grow the Economy JEI **** 2 South East Economic Development Strategy Page | 2 3 South East Economic Development Strategy Table of Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................... 5 Chairman’s Foreword ...................................................................................................................... 7 Rapporteur’s Introduction (Senator David Cullinane) .................................................................... 9 1 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... 11 1.1 Introduction and rationale for the report ......................................................... 11 1.2 Key Facts ....................................................................................................... 13 1.3 A vision for the Southeast .............................................................................. 14 1.4 Key Actions and Interventions ........................................................................ 16 1.5 Structure and Implementation ........................................................................ 25 2. Profile of the Southeast – Strengths and Weaknesses .............................................................. 27 3 Key Areas .......................................................................................................................... 33 3.1 Education, Training and Development ........................................................... 33 3.2 Infrastructural development ............................................................................ 46 3.3 Fostering FDI growth and developing an enterprise environment................... 64 3.4 Supporting the SME Sector ............................................................................ 70 4 Key Growth Sector............................................................................................................. 74 4.1 Agri-Business, Fishing, Food Production and Technology ............................. 74 4.2 Tourism, Arts and Culture .............................................................................. 80 4.3 Health, Life Sciences and Medical Devices .................................................... 83 4.4 Financial and International Trading Services ................................................. 85 Page | 3 4 South East Economic Development Strategy 4.5 Bio Technology and the Green Economy ....................................................... 87 4.6 Creative Industries and the ICT sector ........................................................... 90 4.7 Social Economy and Economic Self Reliance ................................................ 95 5. Appendices ...................................................................................................................... 101 5.1 Membership of the Joint Committee ............................................................. 101 5.2 List of consultation meetings and submissions ............................................. 102 5.3 Profile of companies in the Southeast .......................................................... 108 5.4 Profile of the construction sector in the Southeast........................................ 129 5.5 Glossary of terms ......................................................................................... 132 Page | 4 5 South East Economic Development Strategy Acknowledgments The Report acknowledges the research undertaken by Martin Spain and the significant contribution he made to the report. It further acknowledges the research undertaken by the Oireachtas Library and Research service. The material and research carried out by the author was based on the oral consultations and written submissions of all of the groups, organisations and individuals who contributed to the consultation process. The report also acknowledges the contributions of Ciaran Quinn, Mary Roche and Joanne Spain. Page | 5 6 South East Economic Development Strategy Page | 6 7 South East Economic Development Strategy Chairman’s Foreword Damien English Committee Chairman (FG) From its establishment in June 2011, the former Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education identified unemployment in general, long term unemployment and youth unemployment as key priority issues that were fundamentally important in national efforts to achieve economic recovery. In September 2012, on foot of a proposal from Senator David Cullinane, the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation agreed to appoint Senator Cullinane as a rapporteur for the Committee in the preparation of a report on the development of a strategy for the economic development of the South East. The Joint Committee agreed that Senator Cullinane would examine the issue in detail by seeking the views of the relevant organisations and individuals in the region with a view to identifying realistic policy recommendations which could contribute towards reducing the jobs crisis in the South East which has suffered disproportionately from unemployment over the years. The strategy set out in this report is intended to complement the Southeast Region Employment Action Plan published by Forfás. In the course of the preparation of this report, Senator Cullinane, over a number of months, met with a wide range of key organisations and individuals throughout the region to elicit their views. In addition, the Joint Committee held a day of hearings on the topic to which identified groups and individuals were invited to make oral presentations. All written submissions, opening statements and presentations received and the transcript of the public meeting of the Joint Committee on 18 June this year at which the various organisations and individuals gave evidence can be electronically accessed on the Committees website at http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/jobsenterpriseandi nnovation/reports/ Senator Cullinane brought a draft report to the Joint Committee on 2 July and it was agreed that a Steering Group of its Members would consider the report. Following consideration by the Steering Group a revised version of the draft report was submitted for the consideration of the full Joint Committee. The draft report was finally agreed by the Committee at its meeting of 23 July 2013 and adopted as a Committee report. On behalf of the Joint Committee, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Senator Cullinane for all the detailed work done in producing the draft report, to the Steering Group for its input, to the Oireachtas Library and Research Service and the staff of the Committee Secretariat Page | 7 8 South East Economic Development Strategy for the excellent research, analytical and administrative support throughout and to the organisations and individuals who came before the Joint Committee to give evidence as well as the organisations and individuals who submitted written submissions. The Joint Committee gained valuable insights from all those who had an input into the preparation of the report. The Joint Committee for its part, is fully committed in close consultation with the relevant Ministers, Departments, State Agencies and stakeholders to monitoring the progress being made on the on-going implementation of the recommendations contained in this report as well as other policy initiatives. __________________ Damien English, T.D., Chairman, Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, September 2013. Page | 8 9 South East Economic Development Strategy Rapporteur’s Introduction (Senator David Cullinane) I would like to acknowledge and thank the members of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for their support and input into the preparation of this report. Examining the factors at play in the Southeast, the particular circumstances, the appropriate responses to it, and the lessons learned will provide a useful blueprint for tackling unemployment throughout the rest of the country. I sincerely thank the many groups, organisations and individuals who engaged with the consultation process. Their advice, input and proposals were invaluable and are reflected in the substance of the report. The conclusions of the report draw on the consultations held in Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, South Tipperary and Wexford. It is hoped that this strategy will build on the work of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Southeast Action Plan published by Forfás and the Regional Forum established under the direction of the Minister. I am hugely optimistic about the social and economic future of the Southeast. The region faces many challenges including high unemployment, low educational attainment levels and social disadvantage. However, the region has many strengths including an improved road infrastructure, water and waste water treatment plants, the Rosslare and Waterford Ports and the Institutes of Technology. The region is well placed in the areas of Health, Life Sciences & Medical Devices, Financial & Internationally Traded Services, Tourism, Culture & the Arts, Agri-Business, Food Production & Technology, Engineering,