Donegal Employment Initiative Task Force:

The recommendations of the Donegal Employment Initiative Task Force Action Plan, involving a range of specific and strategic actions in order to respond to the loss of over 1000 jobs in the county, formed the basis for many actions now identified for implementation in the context of An Straitéis. 

The introduction of a more radical and fundamental job creating strategy for the Machine Operator county is also taking place in the context of An Straitéis, with a clear    understanding of the systemic needs of job creation at the centre of this   process.  For example, a company will not necessarily locate in Donegal unless it  can be proven to be financially feasible.  This means that issues of access, telecommunications, power, and amenities are taken into consideration as well  as issues of an available and suitable qualified workforce.

The implications of this for any number of towns in Donegal are that the following elements have to be addressed:

  • Available training in a North-West location

  • Physical infrastructure road access

  • Telecommunications infrastructure capable of suppporting high-speed internet access

  • Adequate power supply to support industrial activity.

Challenges to employment creation in Donegal relate not only to the issue of attracting foreign investment to the county and the provision of the relevant facilities for this; challenges also relate to the need to develop new areas of work, areas of work which can directly improve the quality of peoples lives through employing local people locally and also through the services or products which they provide.  To this end it will be essential that equal emphasis is placed on indigenous enterprise as a job creator.  Also important is the co-ordination of activities in the North West Cross Border Region which are aimed at attracting investment and supporting job creation.

An Striates Implementation PLan identifies specific actions for implementation during the period which is beginning now. It also indicates COunty Development Board member agencies who will be involved in carrying out these actions, supported by the Community, Enterprise and Cultural Services Unit of Donegal County Council.