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Business leaders call for implementation of task force report
BUSINESS leaders from across the region have added their voices to the call for the recommendations put forward in the task force's interim report to be implemented without delay.
The 'mid term assessment' of the Mid-Western jobs task force, led by former Kerry Group chief Denis Brosnan included calls for the IDA to make Limerick a priority region for foreign direct investment - and have the group hold monthly meetings with a designated 'response unit' to ensure it is trying to tackle the unemployment crisis here.
The 84-page document recommends that in a bid to create employment, several capital projects should be fast tracked, most notably the city's regeneration project, which the group feels could create more than 7,000 jobs.
The report also highlights the need to reduce the costs of doing business in Ireland - something Tanaiste Mary Coughlan said needs to be back "at 2002 levels" during her visit to the city last week.
And it is this which Limerick Chamber chief executive Maria Kelly focuses on.
"We strongly agree with their call to reduce employers' PRSI or to provide a credit for corporation tax paid. The report also highlights that major investment is required to upskil and retrain our work force, and to get the unemployed back to work. An important skills base has been built up within Dell and its suppliers, particularly in the area of logistics, that should not be lost," Ms Kelly said.
Meanwhile, IBEC's Mid-West director Chris O'Donovan said the report "shows the damage done to the region by recent years of excesses."
Despite the fact the report calls for immediate action on several capital projects - including the completion of major link roads in the county - Mr O'Donovan added a "measured assessment" of spending requirements is what is required to "protect what's left of the region's employment base."
Ms Kelly added: "This report cannot, like so many reports, gather dust on the shelves of Leinster House. Nor should another group be established to evaluate the recommendations of this report."
Conor O'Connell from the Construction Industry Federation's Mid-West branch said: "We strongly believe that there needs to be urgent consideration given to public private partnerships and tax led development incentives in the regeneration areas."
Alarmingly, the report predicted that the unemployment rate in the Mid-West region - something which represents a 20 per cent jobless ratio.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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