My Department, through its agency Enterprise Ireland, is committed to supporting Irish businesses to grow, innovate and perform strongly in global markets.
On the 9th of January 2019, Enterprise Ireland (EI) announced its 2018 end of year results. 215,207 people are now employed in companies supported by the agency and this is the highest total employment in the 20 year history of the agency. Almost two thirds (61%) of the new jobs created were outside of Dublin with all regions recording increases in employment. 64% of total employment by Enterprise Ireland supported companies is now outside of Dublin.
In County Longford there are 46 companies supported by Enterprise Ireland while in County Westmeath there are 91 EI clients. The breakdown of these EI supported companies over the last three years is set out in the table below.
Clients
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
Co. Longford
|
49
|
50
|
46
|
Co. Westmeath
|
99
|
114
|
91
|
I continue to work closely with Enterprise Ireland to support sustainable regional enterprise development and to ensure that the benefits of our economic growth are felt in every region.