THE GOVERNMENT IS set to announce details of a major new plan aimed at tackling the unemployment crisis.

The Action Plan for Jobs will aim to create 100,000 new jobs in Ireland by 2016 in a bid to curb the unemployment rate of 14.2 per cent.

The plan is expected to include a range of measures, including a micro-finance loan fund of €100 million over ten years for start-ups and small businesses.

The plan will also include a temporary partial loan guarantee scheme for businesses turned down for loans from their bank.

Unusually for a government initiative, the plan will include targets for delivery for every quarter and will be monitored closely to ensure it meets the targets.

The government has repeatedly emphasised over recent months that its top priority is jobs.

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Full details of the plan will be announced by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, and Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton this afternoon in Dublin.

The plan comes in what has been a good few weeks for job announcements. Last week,  three multinational companies announced the creation of almost 500 jobs at their Irish bases, just days after digital tv provider Sky revealed plans to create 800 new jobs in Dublin.

Almost 500 jobs announced by high-tech multinationals >