A new guide setting out the range of state supports available for the manufacturing sector has been launched by jobs minister Richard Bruton.

The guide, called 'An Overview of Government Supports for Manufacturing in Ireland', brings together all of the available state services in a single publication to assist the sector to tap into these supports and clarify the details of what is available from a range of agencies and bodies.

The brochure will be distributed by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. It will also be circulated to relevant business organisations/groups and is available on the department’s website, where it will be updated as any initiatives are amended.

Minister Bruton said: “Manufacturing is a key area which we have targeted as part of our Action Plan for Jobs. This is an area which was neglected in previous decades as governments seemed to adopt a view that it was not an appropriate target for Ireland in a ‘knowledge economy’ era. The reality is that manufacturing must form a key part of a successful industrial strategy for Ireland."

He added: “This brochure, along with the website www.actionplanforjobs.ie, is a practical, helpful support for the manufacturing industry and I would urge anyone in the manufacturing area or thinking of setting up a business to be informed about the government supports available."

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The latest employment data for the manufacturing sector, from the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey, shows that direct employment in manufacturing stood at 218,000 at June 2015.