Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
22. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans under the north-east regional jobs plan for job creation in County Meath to reduce unemployment figures on the live register and the number of daily commuters out of the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4454/21]
View answerDelivering balanced regional growth through a coherent policy approach to the enterprise needs of every part of Ireland is a stated objective within the Programme for Government.
My Department’s Regional Enterprise Plans are focused on region-specific enterprise development challenges and opportunities and provide a mechanism for joined up responses at the regional level, involving the enterprise agencies, LEOs, local authorities, higher and further education bodies, private sector, and others.
The Regional Enterprise Plan for the Mid-East which includes Co. Meath sets out a strategic agenda around growing enterprise and jobs in the agri-food and content creation sectors, developing a regional network of co-working hubs, and responding to enterprise skills needs in the region. My Department has commenced the development of nine new Regional Enterprise Plans for the period to the end of 2023 having just concluded the 2-year programme at the end of 2020. My intention is for the plan in the Mid-East and in the other regions to be developed over the coming months, in consultation with regional stakeholders, including those in County Meath.
My Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland, is aimed at enhancing the conditions for regional business growth. To date the Mid-East region has secured €8.3 million across five projects.
Enterprise Ireland’s Strategy ‘Powering the Regions’ includes a focus on the Mid-East. In 2019, 21,258 people were employed in 515 Enterprise Ireland supported companies in the Mid-East, up 3.4% from 2018.
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) in the Mid-East supported an additional 268 net new jobs in start-ups and micro companies in 2019 with 122 net new jobs in Co. Meath.
The IDA is doing everything it can to encourage investors to locate in regional areas including the Mid-East region. In 2019, the Mid-East had 68 IDA supported companies employing 13,435 people, up 2.7% from 2018. At the end of 2020 MSD an IDA company announced the creation 240 new jobs in Dunboyne, Co. Meath.
Working with colleagues across Government to deliver the National Planning Framework, my Department is committed to delivering balanced regional growth and to ensuring that Co. Meath continues to enjoy a steady increase in employment.
