AN agreement between leading
“cleantech
? organisations
in Dublin and Silicon Valley last week will lead to the creation of over 10,000
jobs in the next three years, it has been claimed.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Andrew Montague, was at
the signing in San Jose between the Green Way – Dublin’s Cleantech Cluster –
and the Environmental Business Cluster (EBC) that will lead to a dramatic
increase in research and development and investment opportunities for Irish and
US companies.
According to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs,
the cleantech sector in Ireland employs 18,750 people and is worth over e3
billion to the economy. This employment
figure is set to rise to 29,000 by 2015.
Ireland is currently ranked ninth in the
‘Global
Cleantech Innovation Index 2012’ which showed that the country scored in the
top 10 for evidence of commercialised cleantech innovation.
Speaking at the signing of the agreement, Tony Boyle,
CEO of the Green Way, said:
“This is a concrete example of our mission to
create jobs and international trade opportunities for Dublin cleantech
companies, as well as attracting the next generation of cleantech companies
from the Valley into Ireland.
?
Lord Mayor Montague added that he saw the agreement as
the first step in establishing a strong working cleantech partnership between
Dublin and San Jose.
“Dublin’s longstanding relationship with San Jose has
been key to the growth of the ICT sector in Ireland,
? he said.
“This new
agreement creates an open invitation and opportunity for companies in both
countries to work together to create business and economic partnerships for
generations to come.
?
Meanwhile, five Southside companies took part in an
annual showcase of high potential start-up businesses in the Mansion House
recently.
Deputy Peter Mathews (FG) said it was a credit to
local entrepreneurs that, within the last year, the five companies have been
established, hired staff and begun to export their goods and services.
“The success of these companies is highly
encouraging,
? he said.
“It is very reassuring to see Enterprise Ireland support
these entrepreneurs to set up their companies and create jobs.
?
Also, Deputy Alex White (Lab) has welcomed the fact
that Western Union is to create 35 new jobs in their European headquarters in
Clonskeagh.
“Growing in numbers from employing five people in 2003
to almost 100 people today marks a huge vote of confidence by Western Union in
the local area,
? he said.
However, it was also revealed recently that
unemployment in Dublin Mid-West is at a 17-month high.
At the end of February there were 9,073 people on the
live register. When adjusted to take account of the transfer of 1,062 claimants
from Clondalkin to Tallaght social welfare office in September 2011 the total
number of people signing on from Clondalkin and Lucan exceeds 10,000.
Sinn Féin’s representative, Eoin Ã? Broin, described
the news as
“deeply troubling
? and called for concerted action by the
Government to reverse the trend.