Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2017
22. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to minimise the impact of Brexit in County Donegal; the detail of engagement she has had with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland; if she will ensure that they secure new investment in County Donegal in view of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30215/17]
View answerSince the UK referendum, the State agencies under my remit - Enterprise Ireland (EI), IDA, the Local Enterprise Offices and Inter Trade Ireland - have been active in supporting companies in assessing and addressing their exposure to Brexit.
EI’s current “#Prepare for Brexit” campaign includes a Brexit Scorecard available to all companies to self-assess their preparedness for Brexit across all aspects of their business and which generates a report suggesting appropriate responses. A €5,000 ‘BePrepared’ grant is also available to clients to prepare a Brexit action plan.
The IDA is working on a daily basis to pursue opportunities for new foreign direct investment (FDI) that may arise for Ireland on account of Brexit. The Agency, when promoting Ireland as an FDI location - whether Brexit related or otherwise - particularly emphasises the benefits of locating in regional areas such as Donegal.
Each of the Local Enterprise Offices in the border counties including Donegal can offer advice, training and mentoring to address Brexit challenges. Each LEO can now offer financial assistance to clients to examine export options, to improve product innovation and improve the competitiveness of their business in the face of Brexit.
My Department is providing InterTrade Ireland with additional funding this year to establish a new Brexit Advisory Service, which will provide factual advice, supports for capability building and other specialist expertise to SMEs.
For exporting companies I secured new resources, including extra staffing, for EI and the LEOs in Budget 2017 to assist businesses to maintain and grow export markets.
Based on significant analysis and stakeholder consultation, my Department is currently working on further measures targeted at the needs of companies in the wider economy around working capital and business development.
The Regional Action Plan for Jobs for the Border region contains a large number of actions aimed at strengthening the enterprise sector in the region. In particular, the new Regional Enterprise Development Fund of up to €60m was launched on 29th May. This Fund is aimed at supporting collaborative approaches to grow and sustain indigenous enterprise and jobs across the regions of Ireland.
