DUBLIN, Ireland - The government of Ireland this week launched its Action Plan for Jobs 2015.

The plan is part of a concerted effort to bring the country up to full employment by 2018.

It is the fourth annual plan in a multi-year process which started in early 2012, and sets out in detail the 382 actions to be taken by 16 Government Departments and over 60 State Agencies during 2015 to support job-creation, with deadlines and lead responsibility assigned. The 2015 plan includes six new Disruptive Reforms.

The 2015 plan was launched at the global headquarters of ICON plc, an Irish multinational company which employs 11,000 people in 40 countries, 10% of which are employed in Ireland. ICON additionally announced the creation of 200 innovation jobs which are part-funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland.

Three years ago in February 2012, at a very different time for employment in Ireland, the Government launched the first Action Plan for Jobs at ICON's headquarters with a target at that time of delivering an extra 100,000 jobs by 2016, a target which will be delivered in 2015, over 12 months early.

Among the headline measures to be delivered in 2015 through the Action Plan for Jobs are:

Regions Regional Enterprise Strategies to be rolled out shortly across the country including competitive funding initiatives of up to 25 million euro, aimed at encouraging stakeholders in each region to cooperate to develop projects to support enterprise and job-creation in their area

Startups new measures to deliver on ambitious targets for job-creation by start-ups, including a new SURE tax incentive to provide funding for people starting businesses, and a Start Up Gathering to be held in Ireland during 2015

Red tape cut red tape by reducing the administrative burden of 750,000 business interactions with Government in 2015, and by delivering a streamlined online system for applying for 29 retail licenses in early 2015

Skills a National Talent Drive, including a 60% increase in the number of ICT graduates from the higher education system by 2018

Innovation make Ireland a European leader for intellectual property activities by business including doubling by 2018 the number of patents, industrial designs registered and other measurable IP activities by businesses in Ireland. Also establishment during 2015 of a National Health Innovation Hub

Energy Ireland will become Europe's Energy Innovation Hub by 2020 by becoming a world leader in key parts of the innovative energy sector we will attract more mobile investment and develop more Irish businesses

Exports Over 27,000 new jobs in exporting companies during 2015, supported by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. Exports by Irish companies supported by EI to hit record 19 euro billion during 2015

Awareness target increased awareness among business of Government supports available to help them, through a campaign centred around www.actionplanforjobs.ie which will go live shortly

Competitiveness and productivity measures to support improved competitiveness and productivity, including a 39 million euro fund for businesses to make savings in energy and a new focus by the National Competitiveness Council on concrete measures that can deliver specific improvements

Domestic economy an increased focus on job-creation in the domestic economy, including measures to support the retail, construction and agriculture sectors