Brendan Smith
Question:126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the North-East Regional Enterprise Plan. [43733/21]
View answerWednesday, 15 September 2021
Questions (126)
Written answers
Regional enterprise development and sustainable local job creation is a key policy priority for me and this Government.
My Department is currently overseeing the development of nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024.
These are ‘bottom-up’ plans, developed by regional stakeholders which will identify growth opportunities, recognise vulnerabilities, and enable job creation across the regions including in the North-East region through collaborative regional actions.
The new North-East Plan to 2024 which covers Cavan, Louth and Monaghan will build on the core activities of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs and the wider range of State Bodies involved in supporting enterprise development in the region.
I have the pleasure of driving the delivery of the new Plan in the North-East and I have engaged directly with the North-East Regional Steering Committee made up of regional stakeholders and chaired by Richard Hanlon, Aon Cyber Solutions, throughout 2021.
The regional stakeholders in the North-East region are currently working to finalise focused Strategic Objectives for their region, and actions to deliver on these objectives and intend to sign off on the new North-East Plan in the coming weeks.
Once this has been done it is my Department's intention to publish all these new Plans including for the North-East region, in quarter 4 this year.
Finally, my Department through Enterprise Ireland has made available €0.5 million in Feasibility Funding with grants of up to €50,000 on a 50% match fund basis through the Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme which can be leveraged to develop nascent initiatives emerging from the Regional Enterprise Plans. A closing date of October 1st 2021 applies to this funding.
Question No. 127 answered with Question No. 119.