Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
14. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to capitalise on the potential transport links such as the N24, Limerick Junction and the motorway links that County Tipperary has to offer; his views on the way these links might be best used; the work he has carried out to capitalise from the strategic location of County Tipperary in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39318/21]
View answerDelivering balanced regional growth is a core objective of this Government and my Department and its agencies have a strong role to play in this agenda through direct assistance to businesses as well as promotion and enhancement of regional locations as places for businesses to invest.
Quality of infrastructure and accessibility is an important aspect of the latter and Co. Tipperary is well placed in terms of connectivity to airports, ports and road infrastructure. The county is unique in that it is traversed by two main arterial motorways – M7 and the M8 - and the N24 provides essential connectivity between Limerick and Waterford.
Regional development is at the centre of IDA’s new strategy ‘Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth, through which, the IDA propose to target half of all investments to regional locations from 2021-2024. There are currently 12 IDA supported companies in County Tipperary employing 4,180 people and 143 IDA client companies in the Mid-West Region employing 24,169 people. The Deputy will be aware of the announcement by Fiserv in June 2021, announcing 200 jobs in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
Enterprise Ireland’s Strategic Framework 2021 is focused on driving recovery and resilience of the enterprise base, in every county including Co. Tipperary. During 2020, 131 Enterprise Ireland client companies employing 6,556 people were operating in County Tipperary. The Local Enterprise Office in County Tipperary continues to be a ‘first stop shop’ to individuals who want to start or grow their micro enterprise. In 2020, 278 client companies supported 1,365 jobs in Tipperary.
Overseen by my Department, nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024 are currently being developed by regional stakeholders which will identify growth opportunities, recognise vulnerabilities, and enable job creation across the regions including opportunities emerging with infrastructure improvements. The preparation of a new Mid-West Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024 is underway and includes Co. Tipperary as well as counties Limerick and Clare.
The new Regional Enterprise Plan for the Mid-West will reinforce and build on the core activities of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs and other State Bodies involved in enterprise development in the Mid-West region. Myself and my colleague Minister of State Robert Troy lead on the initiative nationally and I am working closely with the Chair and stakeholders in the Mid-West on the development of the new Plan which is expected to be completed later this year.
The Government has put several funding streams in place to support regional development. Under my Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) administered by Enterprise Ireland, the Mid-West region has secured total funding of over €15 million to date including €5.1 million for two Tipperary based projects - the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation and Innovation Engine.
In addition, through the Government’s National Planning Framework, the main regional centres, including Limerick/Mid-West are to develop as viable alternatives to Dublin, with significant funding being channelled through Project Ireland 2040 Urban and Rural Regeneration and Development Funds. Co Tipperary has secured over €25.5 million under the URDF to date.
