Hogan calls on Local Authorities to support Succeed in Ireland initiative and to hold public meetings to raise awareness locally

Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan T.D. today, 12 March, 2012, launched the Succeed In Ireland initiative in the local authority sector. City and County Managers, Mayors and Chairpersons from local authorities around the country gathered in Kilkenny Castle to hear addresses by Minister Hogan; the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. and Terry Clune founder of ConnectIreland.Com, the Company selected by the IDA to deliver the Succeed In Ireland project.

Succeed in Ireland is an initiative which aims to utilise Irelands diaspora and other connections all over the world to attract companies to set up in Ireland. The initiative aims to create 5,000 jobs within five years by providing direct financial incentives to people around the world to create connections with businesses abroad which lead directly to employment in Ireland. SMEs around the world who are considering expansion but who would be outside the usual State enterprise bodies scope will be targeted.

Minister Hogan said “Job creation is at the heart of everything this Government is trying to achieve. I want to support this excellent initiative in every way possible. To this end, I have asked Local Authorities to come here, to Kilkenny, to be briefed on the initiative directly form the man behind the project, Terry Clune.  Terry and his team in Succeed Ireland will meet each City and County Council individually and I expect the Local Authorities to do what they can in the communities to hold public meetings and other events to ensure every community in the country has been made aware of this initiative.”

“I think it is a great sign that a young and successful Irish entrepreneur and the established state bodies are coming together to work on this project. And I wish them every success in this regard.”